Solomon Islands · Courts
Court structure of Solomon Islands
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate — Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands
- The final court; there is no appeal to the Privy Council. Often constituted with visiting regional judges.
- Superior first instance — High Court of Solomon Islands
- Unlimited original jurisdiction, judicial review and constitutional cases.
- First instance — Magistrates' Courts
- Principal, first-class and second-class magistrates with graded jurisdiction.
- Customary — Local Courts
- Apply customary law; the first instance for customary land disputes.
- Customary appellate — Customary Land Appeal Courts
- Hear appeals from Local Courts on customary land; further appeal to the High Court is limited to points of law.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeHoniaraCourt of Appeal of Solomon IslandsFinal appeals from the High Court in civil and criminal matters.
- first-instanceHoniaraHigh Court of Solomon IslandsUnlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional and fundamental-rights applications, judicial review, and appeals from Magistrates' and Local Courts.
- specialisedProvincial centresCustomary Land Appeal CourtAppeals from Local Courts on the ownership of customary land and on the identity of the persons entitled to represent a landholding group.
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