Palau · Courts
Court structure of Palau
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate — Supreme Court of Palau, Appellate Division
- Final court; no external appeal.
- Superior first instance — Supreme Court of Palau, Trial Division
- General original jurisdiction including constitutional matters.
- First instance — Court of Common Pleas
- Small civil claims and minor criminal offences.
- Specialist — Land Court
- Determines ownership of land, including claims arising from Japanese and Trust Territory administration; appeal to the Supreme Court.
- Traditional — Council of Chiefs
- Constitutional advisory body on custom and traditional law.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeKororSupreme Court of Palau, Appellate DivisionFinal appeals from the Trial Division, the Court of Common Pleas and the Land Court, and constitutional review of legislation and executive action.
- first-instanceKororSupreme Court of Palau, Trial DivisionGeneral original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, constitutional questions, and judicial review of administrative action.
- specialisedKororLand Court of PalauDetermination of ownership of land, including claims to return public land to original owners and claims arising from earlier administrations.
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