Timor-Leste · Courts
Court structure of Timor-Leste
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate and constitutional — Supreme Court of Justice
- Provided by the Constitution but not yet constituted.
- Acting apex — Court of Appeal, Dili
- Exercises final appellate and constitutional jurisdiction in the interim.
- First instance — District Courts
- Dili, Baucau, Suai and Oe-Cusse; general civil and criminal jurisdiction.
- Specialist — Court of Appeal tax and audit chamber
- Also exercises audit functions pending a High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court.
- Customary — Community justice mechanisms
- Not formal courts; recognised in practice and by referral.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeDiliCourt of Appeal of Timor-LesteAppeals from the district courts and, pending establishment of the Supreme Court of Justice, the constitutional review and electoral jurisdiction assigned to that court by the Constitution.
- first-instanceDili, Baucau, Suai, OecusseDistrict Courts of Timor-LesteFirst-instance civil, criminal, labour and administrative jurisdiction within the district.
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