Tuvalu · Courts
Court structure of Tuvalu
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
- Reachable only with leave, on constitutional interpretation, fundamental rights or matters of great public importance.
- Appellate — Court of Appeal of Tuvalu
- Non-resident; constituted from visiting judges and sits when there are appeals to hear.
- Superior first instance — High Court of Tuvalu
- Unlimited jurisdiction; a single Chief Justice, usually non-resident.
- First instance — Senior and Resident Magistrates' Courts
- Summary criminal and small civil matters.
- Customary — Island Courts and Lands Courts
- Island Courts apply custom locally; Lands Courts and the Lands Courts Appeal Panel decide customary land.
Every court in the hierarchy
- internationalLondon, United KingdomJudicial Committee of the Privy Council (Tuvalu appeals)Final appeals from the Court of Appeal of Tuvalu on limited grounds, with leave.
- appellateFunafutiCourt of Appeal of TuvaluAppeals from the High Court in civil and criminal matters.
- first-instanceFunafutiHigh Court of TuvaluUnlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional and fundamental-rights applications, judicial review, and appeals from the Magistrates' and Island Courts.
- specialisedIsland centres across the nine islandsIsland Courts and Lands CourtsMinor civil and criminal matters on each island, and customary land and fishing rights before the Lands Courts.
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