Palau's final court, exercising judicial review on the American model, and it has struck down legislation on constitutional grounds. There is no external appeal; free association with the United States does not send appeals to US courts. Constitutional litigation here includes the world's only nuclear-free constitutional clause, which required a 75% referendum majority to override and delayed the Compact until 1994.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- supreme
- Court type
- Court of final appeal and constitutional court
- Jurisdiction
- Final appeals from the Trial Division, the Court of Common Pleas and the Land Court, and constitutional review of legislation and executive action.
- Seat
- Koror
- Established
- 1981
- Composition
- The Chief Justice and associate justices, sitting in panels of three.
- Appointment
- Appointed by the President from a list submitted by the Judicial Nominating Commission, with Senate confirmation.
- Languages
- English, Palauan
Where an appeal goes next
None. This is the final court.
Filing at this court
- Notice of appeal
- Within 30 days of the judgment appealed from
- Constitutional claim
- Raised under Article IV; no fixed limitation period
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