Vanuatu · Courts
Court structure of Vanuatu
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 Vanuatu
- The final court; usually constituted from visiting judges from Australia, New Zealand and the region, sitting in sessions.
- Superior first instance — Supreme Court of Vanuatu
- Unlimited jurisdiction; the Chief Justice and puisne judges sit in Port Vila and Luganville.
- First instance — Magistrates' Court
- Summary criminal and smaller civil matters.
- Customary — Island Courts
- Established under the Island Courts Act; include custom chiefs as justices and handle small local disputes.
- Land — Custom Land Tribunals and Island Land Officers
- Under the Custom Land Management Act 2013, custom land disputes go to nakamal-based tribunals, not the ordinary courts.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremePort VilaCourt of Appeal of VanuatuFinal appeals from the Supreme Court in civil, criminal and constitutional matters.
- first-instancePort VilaSupreme Court of VanuatuUnlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional applications under Article 6 and 53, judicial review, and appeals from Magistrates' and Island Courts.
- specialisedIsland centresIsland CourtsMinor civil and criminal matters and customary land questions within their island jurisdiction, applying custom.
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