Every court, and exactly where an appeal travels next

National — civil, criminal instruction and administrative claims

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction at first instance, constitutional claims, admiralty and probate. Serious criminal charges are tried before a judge and jury.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

National federal civil jurisdiction

New South Wales

Regional — first-instance civil and criminal cases

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, constitutional claims under Article 28, and a Commercial Division for substantial business and insolvency disputes.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

First-instance civil suits, criminal trials before Sessions Judges, and appeals from courts of Assistant Judges and magistrates.

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, constitutional redress under section 24, family matters and admiralty.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

Twelve judicial arrondissements

187 judicial cantons

District

First-instance civil, criminal and family matters within the district, with dungkhag courts below them in some sub-districts.

Ontario

First-instance trial of serious criminal cases including those carrying capital punishment, higher-value civil and commercial claims, foreign-related and maritime matters, and appeals from basic people's courts.

By municipality, with county courts above

Most first-instance criminal, civil, family, labour and housing matters, including the new family jurisdiction under the 2022 Family Code.

First-instance civil and criminal jurisdiction, with specialised Family Courts, Rent Control Courts, Industrial Disputes Courts and a Commercial Court.

National (24 districts)

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction at first instance, constitutional claims, admiralty and probate. Serious criminal charges are tried before a judge and jury.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

Civil, commercial and criminal trials, labour and land disputes, and small claims and municipal matters before the Juzgados de Paz.

National

Unlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, judicial review, and enforcement of the Bill of Rights under section 44 of the Constitution.

National

Paris

By judicial district, with justices of the peace below

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction at first instance, constitutional claims, admiralty and probate. Serious criminal charges are tried before a judge and jury.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

Demerara-Mahaica judicial district

Civil, commercial and criminal matters beyond the competence of the justices of the peace; serious crime is tried at assize sittings, with a jury for blood crimes.

Small civil claims, minor offences, initial receipt of complaints, and preliminary steps including certification of certain civil-status matters.

Vatican City State — civil and criminal matters

Budapest — first instance in major cases and appeals from district courts

National (eight districts)

South Delhi district

First-instance civil and criminal jurisdiction, with specialised chambers for commercial, industrial-relations, fisheries, taxation, human-rights and corruption matters attached to designated district courts.

National — full original jurisdiction

By circondario, with the giudice di pace below

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, constitutional claims under section 19 of the Charter, and specialist divisions including the Revenue Court, Gun Court and Commercial Division.

Summary criminal offences, civil claims up to the statutory limit, family and maintenance matters, traffic and petty sessions business.

Tokyo Metropolis

Unlimited original jurisdiction, enforcement of Chapter II rights, judicial review, and appeals from the Magistrates' and Lands Courts.

First-instance civil, commercial, criminal, administrative, personal-status, labour and rental jurisdiction through specialised circuits.

National

National — single first-instance court

National

Two judicial districts (Luxembourg and Diekirch)

First-instance jurisdiction divided by subject matter: civil and commercial claims, criminal prosecutions, family and inheritance, juvenile matters, and drug offences.

National — civil and commercial claims above the inferior threshold

General original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, and appeals from the District, Community and Traditional Rights Courts.

District

National-law matters: constitutional questions, admiralty and maritime, disputes between states or between a state and the national government, diversity cases, and national offences.

National

By territory, with high courts for serious crime

Unlimited original jurisdiction, exclusive original jurisdiction on constitutional interpretation, judicial review, and appeals from the District Court and the Nauru Lands Committee.

First-instance civil, criminal and family matters, and appeals from the judicial committees of local governments.

Regional — eleven districts

Employment, tenancy, consumer and civil claims up to EUR 25,000

Inherent jurisdiction: serious criminal trials, high-value civil claims, judicial review of administrative action, insolvency, admiralty, and appeals from the District Court.

Federal subject matter

By territory, some with extended competence

National

General original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, constitutional questions, and judicial review of administrative action.

Unlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, enforcement of basic rights under section 57, judicial review, and appeals from the District and Village Courts.

First-instance civil claims above the statutory threshold, serious criminal offences, family and juvenile matters in designated Family Courts, and commercial and intellectual-property cases in designated Special Commercial Courts.

By comarca, with specialised sections

First-instance civil, commercial, criminal, administrative, labour and family jurisdiction through specialised circuits.

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction at first instance, constitutional claims, admiralty and probate. Serious criminal charges are tried before a judge and jury.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction at first instance, constitutional claims, admiralty and probate. Serious criminal charges are tried before a judge and jury.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction at first instance, constitutional claims, admiralty and probate. Serious criminal charges are tried before a judge and jury.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

Unlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, constitutional applications under Article 4, judicial review, and appeals from the District Court.

National — all civil, criminal and administrative matters

By territory, with higher courts for serious crime

Civil claims within statutory limits in the District and Magistrates' Courts, the bulk of criminal prosecutions, and specialised jurisdiction in the Small Claims Tribunals, Employment Claims Tribunals and Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals.

National, split by value and gravity

Unlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional and fundamental-rights applications, judicial review, and appeals from Magistrates' and Local Courts.

Gauteng province

By judicial district (partido judicial)

Unlimited first-instance civil jurisdiction, including land, testamentary, insolvency, matrimonial and adoption matters.

First canton

National

Cantonal — first-instance civil and criminal cases

First-instance civil and criminal jurisdiction, with specialised courts for intellectual property and international trade, labour, taxation, bankruptcy, juveniles and family matters.

First-instance civil, criminal, labour and administrative jurisdiction within the district.

Unlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, constitutional questions, judicial review, and appeals from the Magistrates' Courts.

Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, constitutional motions under section 14, judicial review, and family and children matters.

Summary criminal offences, preliminary enquiries into indictable charges, small civil claims, and family and maintenance matters.

Unlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional and fundamental-rights applications, judicial review, and appeals from the Magistrates' and Island Courts.

England and Wales

Manhattan, the Bronx and six surrounding counties

Unlimited original jurisdiction, constitutional applications under Article 6 and 53, judicial review, and appeals from Magistrates' and Island Courts.