Haiti · Courts
Court structure of Haiti
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Supreme — Cour de cassation
- Court of final review; also hears certain constitutional questions.
- Appellate — Cours d'appel
- Regional appellate courts.
- First instance — Tribunaux de première instance
- Civil, commercial and criminal jurisdiction; assize sittings for serious crime.
- Local — Tribunaux de paix
- Justices of the peace; the first point of contact for most people.
- Audit — Cour supérieure des comptes et du contentieux administratif
- Combines public audit with administrative litigation.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremePort-au-PrinceCour de cassationCassation review of judgments of the courts of appeal, and constitutional questions arising in cases before it given that the Conseil Constitutionnel was never established.
- appellatePort-au-PrinceCours d'appelAppeals from the tribunaux de première instance in civil, commercial and criminal matters.
- first-instancePort-au-PrinceTribunaux de première instanceCivil, commercial and criminal matters beyond the competence of the justices of the peace; serious crime is tried at assize sittings, with a jury for blood crimes.
- first-instancePort-au-PrinceTribunaux de paixSmall civil claims, minor offences, initial receipt of complaints, and preliminary steps including certification of certain civil-status matters.
- specialisedPort-au-PrinceCour supérieure des comptes et du contentieux administratifAudit of public revenue and expenditure, and adjudication of administrative disputes between individuals and the state.
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