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🇮🇪 Ireland · first-instance court

High Court

An Ard-Chúirt

Reviewed· 2026-08-02Dublin

The High Court has full original jurisdiction in civil and serious criminal matters (sitting as the Central Criminal Court) and can determine the constitutional validity of laws. The Circuit and District Courts handle lower-value and summary cases.

How the court is constituted

Tier
first instance
Court type
Superior court of first instance
Jurisdiction
National — full original jurisdiction
Seat
Dublin
Composition
A president and judges sitting singly or, for serious crime, with a jury.
Languages
English, Irish

Where an appeal goes next

Appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Filing at this court

Circuit Court
Mid-range civil claims and indictable crime
District Court
Small claims and summary offences

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