The courts where the overwhelming majority of cases begin and end. Five magisterial districts cover the island, with District A in Bridgetown handling the largest volume of criminal work. Magistrates also conduct preliminary enquiries to decide whether an indictable charge should be sent to the superior court for trial.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- first instance
- Court type
- Court of summary jurisdiction
- Jurisdiction
- Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.
- Seat
- Bridgetown
- Composition
- Magistrates sitting alone, without a jury.
- Languages
- English
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to the Court of Appeal.
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