Trinidad and Tobago · Courts
Court structure of Trinidad and Tobago
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
- Final appeal, despite the CCJ being seated in Port of Spain.
- Regional — Caribbean Court of Justice
- Original jurisdiction only; headquartered in Port of Spain.
- Appellate — Court of Appeal
- Presided over by the Chief Justice.
- Superior first instance — High Court of Justice
- Unlimited jurisdiction; includes the Family and Children Division.
- First instance — Magistrates' Courts
- Summary criminal matters and preliminary enquiries.
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.
- internationalPort of SpainCaribbean Court of Justice (original jurisdiction)Interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Trinidad and Tobago has not adopted the CCJ's appellate jurisdiction.
- appellatePort of SpainCourt of AppealAppeals from the High Court and from Magistrates' Courts in civil and criminal matters.
- first-instancePort of SpainHigh Court of JusticeUnlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, constitutional motions under section 14, judicial review, and family and children matters.
- first-instancePort of SpainMagistrates' CourtsSummary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.
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