The principal trial courts, one in each judicial district. Serious criminal cases are heard at periodic assize sittings (assises criminelles), and long intervals between sittings are a major contributor to prolonged pre-trial detention, which affects the large majority of Haiti's prison population.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- first instance
- Court type
- Courts of first instance
- Jurisdiction
- Civil, commercial and criminal matters beyond the competence of the justices of the peace; serious crime is tried at assize sittings, with a jury for blood crimes.
- Seat
- Port-au-Prince
- Composition
- Single judges for most matters; assize panels for serious crime.
- Languages
- French, Haitian Creole
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to the Cour d'appel.
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