Fiji's final court, which also holds an exclusive original jurisdiction to answer constitutional questions referred under section 91 of the 2013 Constitution — a function most final courts do not have. Benches routinely include serving or retired appellate judges from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, a practice common across the Pacific where the local pool of appellate judges is small.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- supreme
- Court type
- Court of final appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Final appeals from the Court of Appeal with leave, and exclusive original jurisdiction under section 91 of the Constitution to determine constitutional questions referred to it.
- Seat
- Suva
- Established
- 1990
- Composition
- The Chief Justice as President, with Justices of Appeal and judges appointed for the sitting; normally three or five.
- Appointment
- Appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission, following consultation with the Attorney-General.
- Languages
- English
Where an appeal goes next
None. This is the final court.
Filing at this court
- Petition for leave to appeal
- Within 42 days of the Court of Appeal decision
- Constitutional reference
- Referred under section 91; no standard limitation period
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