Saint Lucia · Courts
Court structure of Saint Lucia
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate — Caribbean Court of Justice
- Appellate jurisdiction accepted; replaces the Privy Council.
- Regional appellate — Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal
- Itinerant court of the ECSC, headquartered in Castries.
- Superior first instance — High Court of Justice (ECSC)
- Resident judges sitting in Saint Lucia.
- First instance — Magistrates' Courts
- Summary criminal and small civil matters.
Every court in the hierarchy
- internationalPort of SpainCaribbean Court of JusticeFinal appeal in civil and criminal matters from this state, replacing the Privy Council. Also exercises an original jurisdiction over the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas binding on all CARICOM members.
- appellateCastriesEastern Caribbean Court of AppealAppeals from the High Court and, in some matters, from Magistrates' Courts of this state and of the other member states and territories of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
- first-instanceCastriesHigh Court of JusticeUnlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction at first instance, constitutional claims, admiralty and probate. Serious criminal charges are tried before a judge and jury.
- first-instanceCastriesMagistrates' CourtsSummary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.
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