Kuwait · Courts
Court structure of Kuwait
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Constitutional — Constitutional Court
- Five judges; constitutionality of legislation and election validity.
- Final appellate — Court of Cassation
- Points of law in civil, commercial and criminal matters.
- Appellate — Court of Appeal
- Civil, criminal, commercial, family and administrative circuits.
- First instance — Court of First Instance
- Including separate Sunni and Ja'fari personal status divisions.
- Summary — Summary Courts
- Small claims and minor offences.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeKuwait CityCourt of Cassation of KuwaitFinal review on points of law in civil, commercial, criminal and personal-status matters.
- constitutionalKuwait CityConstitutional Court of KuwaitExclusive jurisdiction over the constitutionality of laws and decrees, disputes over the competence of state bodies, and challenges to the validity of National Assembly elections.
- first-instanceKuwait CityCourt of First Instance of KuwaitFirst-instance civil, commercial, criminal, administrative, personal-status, labour and rental jurisdiction through specialised circuits.
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