Tonga's ordinary final court. The split with the Privy Council of Tonga is the feature that trips up most researchers: since the 2010 reforms the Court of Appeal took over general appellate jurisdiction, but appeals from the Land Court on hereditary estates and titles still go to the Privy Council. The bench is non-resident and sits in sessions.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- supreme
- Court type
- Court of final appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Final appeals from the Supreme Court and the Magistrates' Courts in civil and criminal matters. Appeals concerning hereditary estates and titles go instead to the Privy Council of Tonga.
- Seat
- Nukuʻalofa
- Established
- 1990
- Composition
- A President and Justices of Appeal, most non-resident, sitting in panels of three.
- Appointment
- Appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel.
- Languages
- Tongan, English
Where an appeal goes next
None for general matters. This is the final court outside the hereditary-estates jurisdiction.
Filing at this court
- Notice of appeal
- Within 30 days of the Supreme Court decision
- Sittings
- The court sits in sessions; appeals are listed for the next sitting
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