Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Courts
Court structure of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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 after the 2009 referendum.
- Regional appellate — Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal
- Sits on circuit in Kingstown.
- Superior first instance — High Court of Justice (ECSC)
- Resident judges in Kingstown.
- First instance — Magistrates' Courts
- Summary criminal and small civil matters, including a family court.
Every court in the hierarchy
- internationalLondonJudicial Committee of the Privy CouncilFinal appeal in civil and criminal matters, and on constitutional questions, from the courts of this state.
- 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-instanceKingstownHigh 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-instanceKingstownMagistrates' CourtsSummary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.
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