Sits in each province to hear appeals from the Local Courts on customary land ownership, the question that underlies most logging, mining and development disputes in Solomon Islands, where roughly 87% of land is customary and unregistered. Its findings on custom are largely final: further appeal to the High Court lies only on a point of law or excess of jurisdiction.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- specialised
- Court type
- Customary land court
- Jurisdiction
- Appeals from Local Courts on the ownership of customary land and on the identity of the persons entitled to represent a landholding group.
- Seat
- Provincial centres
- Composition
- A magistrate as president sitting with members appointed for their knowledge of local custom.
- Appointment
- Constituted under the Land and Titles Act for each province.
- Languages
- English, Solomon Islands Pijin, local languages
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to the High Court on a point of law or jurisdiction only.
Filing at this court
- Appeal from a Local Court
- Within three months of the Local Court decision
- Appeal to the High Court
- Within three months, on a point of law only
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