Kiribati · Courts
Court structure of Kiribati
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate — Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
- Retained on limited grounds with leave; London-based.
- Appellate — Kiribati Court of Appeal
- Non-resident; constituted from visiting judges and sits in sessions.
- Superior first instance — High Court of Kiribati
- Unlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional and land appeals.
- First instance — Magistrates' Courts
- Sit on each inhabited island; summary criminal and small civil claims.
- Customary — Lands Courts
- Determine customary land and fishing rights; appeal lies to the High Court.
Every court in the hierarchy
- internationalLondon, United KingdomJudicial Committee of the Privy Council (Kiribati appeals)Final appeals from the Kiribati Court of Appeal on limited grounds, with leave.
- appellateSouth TarawaKiribati Court of AppealAppeals from the High Court in civil and criminal matters.
- first-instanceSouth TarawaHigh Court of KiribatiUnlimited original jurisdiction, enforcement of Chapter II rights, judicial review, and appeals from the Magistrates' and Lands Courts.
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