Iraq · Courts
Court structure of Iraq
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Constitutional — Federal Supreme Court
- Constitutionality, federal disputes and election certification; rulings are final.
- Final appellate — Federal Court of Cassation
- Apex of the ordinary hierarchy for civil and criminal matters.
- Appellate — Courts of Appeal
- One per governorate region, with civil and criminal chambers.
- First instance — Courts of First Instance and Personal Status Courts
- Personal status is heard by ordinary judges applying the 1959 law.
- Regional — Kurdistan Region judiciary
- Its own Court of Cassation and courts under Regional legislation.
Every court in the hierarchy
- constitutionalBaghdadFederal Supreme Court of IraqConstitutional review of statutes and regulations, resolution of disputes between the federal government and the regions and governorates, ratification of national election results, and interpretation of the Constitution.
- supremeBaghdadFederal Court of Cassation of IraqFinal review on points of law in civil, criminal and personal-status matters from the courts of appeal.
- specialisedNationwidePersonal Status Courts of IraqMarriage, divorce, custody and inheritance, applying the Personal Status Law 188 of 1959 to Muslims and community law to recognised non-Muslim communities.
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