The superior court of first instance, which also exercises the constitutional jurisdiction: Article 6 lets any person alleging a breach of fundamental rights apply directly, and Article 53 allows a challenge to a law's constitutionality. Vanuatu received both English common law and French civil law at independence, and the court still applies pre-independence French law in some property matters where no local statute has replaced it.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- first instance
- Court type
- Superior court of general jurisdiction
- Jurisdiction
- Unlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional applications under Article 6 and 53, judicial review, and appeals from Magistrates' and Island Courts.
- Seat
- Port Vila
- Established
- 1980
- Composition
- The Chief Justice and puisne judges, sitting alone.
- Appointment
- The Chief Justice is appointed by the President after consulting the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition; other judges on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.
- Languages
- English, French, Bislama
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to the Court of Appeal of Vanuatu.
Filing at this court
- Constitutional application
- Article 6 application; no fixed limitation period
- Judicial review
- Claim within six months of the decision under the Civil Procedure Rules
Found something out of date on Supreme Court of Vanuatu?
Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.