649:
Privy
Council struck down the change to the final appellate court as unconstitutional because the Privy Council's status is an entrenched provision in the Jamaican Constitution and as such more would be required to remove the Privy Council as the final appellate court. The Council ruled that although Parliament was within its powers to remove appellate jurisdiction from the Privy Council, it could not grant jurisdiction to the CCJ through an ordinary act. Instead, such a change must meet the more rigorous standards for amending "entrenched" provisions of the Jamaican Constitution. As a result, the Privy Council remains the final court of appeal for Jamaica. As of June 2015, three bills which would abolish appeals to the Privy Council and make the CCJ Jamaica's final court of appeal have passed the House of Representatives and have been sent to the Senate where they must be approved by a two-thirds majority to become law.
145:
455:
35:
1103:
584:). Besides the Chief Justice, the court is composed of the Senior Puisne Judge and additional Puisne Judges, with their number established by Parliament. In response to increasing case load, Parliament in 2008 increased the number of spaces on the Supreme Court from 26 to 40 with the new spaces filled over time by appointment of new judges.
648:
In 2004 the
Jamaican Parliament approved the establishment of the CCJ as the highest court in its Original Jurisdiction in the interpretation of the Revised Treaty of Chagaramus, while at the same time attempting to replace Privy Council as the final appellate court in Jamaica. However, in 2005 the
520:
in London. The Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court. The
Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction in all cases, and sits as the Circuit Court to try criminal cases. The Parish Court (formerly known as the Resident Magistrate's court) in each parish hears both criminal and civil cases,
615:
Resident
Magistrates or Parish Court are appointed by the Governor General on recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission. They are assigned to a parish by the Chief Justice and report to the Chief Justice. The minimum qualification for the Resident Magistrate is five (5) years at the Bar.
607:
Each parish has a Parish Court with power to hear civil and criminal matters. The jurisdiction of each court extends one mile beyond the border of its parish. Severe crimes such as rape, treason, and murder are not tried by the Parish Courts, but are referred to the
Supreme Court after a
599:, the Commercial Court, the Revenue Court, and the Family Court. In the civil division of the Supreme Court the judge sits alone without the jury, except in cases of defamation. The Supreme Court also serves as a Constitutional Court for Jamaica.
624:
The Petty
Sessions hear minor criminal matters, such as resisting arrest. Justices of the Peace serve as judges in the Petty Sessions. Petty Session Courts require a minimum of two Justices of the Peace, to be properly constituted.
567:
as
Jamaica's final court of appeal. The reform will be debated by the Senate. However, the government will need the support of at least one opposition senator for the measures to be approved by the required two-thirds majority.
611:
The Parish Courts also have a number of divisions, including the Family Court, Coroners Court, Tax Court, Juvenile Court, Traffic Court, Small Claims Court, Night Court, Drug Court, and Gun Court (Parish Court
Division).
587:
The
Supreme Court has a number of divisions, in which a subset of the justices hear specific types of cases. The Circuit Court is the division for criminal cases, holding sessions in the individual
548:
of the Court of Appeal, but participates only when asked to do so by the
President. Although the Court of Appeal is the highest court in Jamaica, its judgements may themselves be appealed to the
544:
The Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court in Jamaica; it is superior to the Supreme Court. The Court is composed of a President and six other Judges. The Chief Justice is also a judge
249:
398:
1527:
595:
states that the "Circuit Court for every parish in this Island shall be the Appeal Court for matters arising in every such parish." Other divisions of the Supreme Court are the
811:
842:
209:
492:
1454:
237:
905:
1520:
1424:
746:
968:
1698:
1087:
553:
517:
436:
1381:
782:
418:
414:
1513:
1153:
52:
1251:
1092:
312:
263:
1588:
1123:
307:
244:
563:
approved with the necessary two-thirds majority bills to end legal appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and make the
258:
819:
1480:
1356:
981:
637:. The Court has a dual role: it has original jurisdiction and functions as an international court in interpreting and applying the
485:
179:
118:
1773:
1743:
1648:
99:
1653:
1548:
71:
1768:
879:
513:
866:
766:
1799:
1658:
645:; and it is intended to replace the Privy Council as a court of last appeal for the countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean.
592:
373:
299:
294:
289:
56:
1748:
78:
1794:
1439:
1310:
1082:
1638:
1204:
1017:
961:
478:
465:
391:
1329:
1234:
1179:
378:
175:
85:
1703:
521:
excluding grave offences. The Petty Sessions are held under Justices of the Peace, with power to hear minor crimes.
1738:
1444:
1214:
1138:
634:
564:
332:
185:
45:
1758:
1256:
1148:
1133:
1128:
658:
368:
337:
192:
67:
1753:
1763:
1733:
1643:
1593:
1553:
1261:
1189:
1067:
909:
577:
426:
342:
1728:
1723:
1718:
1804:
1628:
1603:
1573:
1409:
1346:
1194:
1037:
1027:
954:
1678:
1583:
1713:
1708:
1693:
1688:
1404:
1366:
1305:
1239:
1219:
1077:
934:
441:
1633:
1683:
1613:
1608:
1558:
1399:
1246:
1224:
638:
560:
227:
735:
Hudson, Rex A.; Seyler, Daniel J. (1989). "Jamaica". In Meditz, Sandra W.; Hanratty, Dennis M. (eds.).
1598:
1371:
1351:
1315:
1199:
1111:
1062:
1007:
533:
404:
278:
1623:
1568:
1563:
1429:
1376:
1300:
1229:
1167:
1143:
1072:
1012:
588:
581:
361:
163:
135:
92:
1473:
1391:
1275:
1184:
989:
204:
1578:
1361:
1052:
940:
431:
232:
1489:
1449:
1434:
1414:
1341:
1042:
1032:
742:
1419:
1292:
1287:
1102:
549:
144:
17:
1494:
1047:
576:
The Supreme Court has unlimited original jurisdiction in criminal and civil cases. The
516:. The courts are organized at four levels, with additional provision for appeal to the
459:
197:
1788:
883:
783:"House Of Representatives Votes For Jamaica To Leave The Privy Council For The CCJ"
683:
1057:
529:
168:
34:
1505:
1022:
525:
710:
596:
736:
1002:
906:"The Structure of the Jamaican Court System - Caribbean Court of Justice"
943:(1962) from the Georgetown University Political Database of the Americas
977:
642:
508:
997:
741:. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress.
946:
908:. University of Florida Interactive Media Lab. 2006. Archived from
843:"Chief Justice hopeful Supreme Court will be expanded this year"
1509:
950:
28:
580:
of the Supreme Court is the head of the judiciary (currently
812:"Bills to replace Privy Council with CCJ tabled in Senate"
633:
In 2001 Jamaica signed the agreement establishing the
1667:
1541:
1390:
1328:
1274:
1166:
1110:
988:
59:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
882:. Caribbean Court of Justice. 2003. Archived from
1521:
962:
486:
399:Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
8:
705:
703:
701:
767:The Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act
1528:
1514:
1506:
1334:
1280:
1172:
1116:
969:
955:
947:
493:
479:
130:
119:Learn how and when to remove this message
867:The Justices of the Peace (Appeals) Act
670:
593:The Justices of the Peace (Appeals) Act
554:Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
528:jurisdiction, in which precedents from
518:Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
133:
935:Structure of the Jamaican Court System
880:"About the Caribbean Court of Justice"
716:. Ministry of Justice of Jamaica. 2004
552:, in which case they are heard by the
738:Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean
678:
676:
674:
536:tradition may be taken into account.
7:
57:adding citations to reliable sources
841:Lewis, Taneisha (13 January 2009).
806:
804:
777:
775:
711:"The Annual Court Report - 2002-03"
25:
1649:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1101:
453:
143:
33:
514:judiciary of the United Kingdom
44:needs additional citations for
1:
1083:Jamaica Independence Act 1962
818:. 22 May 2015. Archived from
1774:United States Virgin Islands
1536:Judiciaries of North America
937:from the Ministry of Justice
1382:Water supply and sanitation
1821:
686:. U.S. Department of State
684:"Background Note: Jamaica"
635:Caribbean Court of Justice
629:Caribbean Court of Justice
565:Caribbean Court of Justice
333:Caribbean Court of Justice
1749:Saint Pierre and Miquelon
1467:
1337:
1283:
1175:
1119:
1099:
659:Chief Justices of Jamaica
1769:Turks and Caicos Islands
561:House of Representatives
362:Administrative divisions
259:Leader of the Opposition
245:House of Representatives
18:Supreme Court of Jamaica
941:Constitution of Jamaica
210:Ministries and agencies
1699:British Virgin Islands
1078:West Indies Federation
415:Diplomatic missions of
68:"Judiciary of Jamaica"
1800:Government of Jamaica
1639:Saint Kitts and Nevis
639:Treaty of Chaguaramas
608:preliminary hearing.
1795:Judiciary of Jamaica
1063:Morant Bay rebellion
1008:Atlantic slave trade
847:The Jamaica Observer
641:, which established
534:British Commonwealth
405:Kamina Johnson-Smith
53:improve this article
1654:Trinidad and Tobago
1549:Antigua and Barbuda
1455:Television stations
1073:British West Indies
912:on 27 December 2009
886:on 17 December 2003
374:Electoral divisions
136:Politics of Jamaica
1589:Dominican Republic
1311:Telecommunications
460:Jamaica portal
1782:
1781:
1671:other territories
1503:
1502:
1463:
1462:
1324:
1323:
1270:
1269:
1252:Political parties
1205:Foreign relations
1162:
1161:
1088:Hurricane Charley
1053:Second Maroon War
559:In May 2015, the
503:
502:
437:Visa requirements
392:Foreign relations
313:Political parties
129:
128:
121:
103:
16:(Redirected from
1812:
1739:Saint Barthélemy
1669:Dependencies and
1542:Sovereign states
1530:
1523:
1516:
1507:
1483:
1476:
1335:
1301:Free trade zones
1296:
1281:
1235:Governor-General
1180:Attorney general
1173:
1117:
1105:
1043:First Maroon War
1013:British conquest
971:
964:
957:
948:
922:
921:
919:
917:
902:
896:
895:
893:
891:
876:
870:
864:
858:
857:
855:
853:
838:
832:
831:
829:
827:
816:Jamaica Observer
808:
799:
798:
796:
794:
779:
770:
764:
758:
757:
755:
753:
732:
726:
725:
723:
721:
715:
707:
696:
695:
693:
691:
680:
512:is based on the
495:
488:
481:
458:
457:
456:
379:Populated places
176:Governor-General
147:
131:
124:
117:
113:
110:
104:
102:
61:
37:
29:
21:
1820:
1819:
1815:
1814:
1813:
1811:
1810:
1809:
1785:
1784:
1783:
1778:
1672:
1670:
1663:
1537:
1534:
1504:
1499:
1486:
1479:
1472:
1459:
1445:Public holidays
1386:
1320:
1294:
1266:
1215:Law enforcement
1158:
1154:Water resources
1106:
1097:
1068:1907 earthquake
1038:1692 earthquake
984:
975:
931:
926:
925:
915:
913:
904:
903:
899:
889:
887:
878:
877:
873:
865:
861:
851:
849:
840:
839:
835:
825:
823:
810:
809:
802:
792:
790:
781:
780:
773:
765:
761:
751:
749:
734:
733:
729:
719:
717:
713:
709:
708:
699:
689:
687:
682:
681:
672:
667:
655:
631:
622:
605:
574:
550:King-in-Council
542:
540:Court of Appeal
499:
470:
466:Other countries
454:
452:
447:
446:
427:Nationality law
423:
411:
394:
384:
383:
364:
354:
353:
338:Court of Appeal
328:
318:
317:
304:
281:
271:
270:
223:
215:
214:
159:
138:
125:
114:
108:
105:
62:
60:
50:
38:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1818:
1816:
1808:
1807:
1805:Law of Jamaica
1802:
1797:
1787:
1786:
1780:
1779:
1777:
1776:
1771:
1766:
1761:
1759:Sint Eustatius
1756:
1751:
1746:
1741:
1736:
1731:
1726:
1721:
1716:
1711:
1706:
1704:Cayman Islands
1701:
1696:
1691:
1686:
1681:
1675:
1673:
1668:
1665:
1664:
1662:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1576:
1571:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1545:
1543:
1539:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1532:
1525:
1518:
1510:
1501:
1500:
1498:
1497:
1492:
1485:
1484:
1477:
1469:
1468:
1465:
1464:
1461:
1460:
1458:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1425:Heritage sites
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1396:
1394:
1388:
1387:
1385:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1338:
1332:
1326:
1325:
1322:
1321:
1319:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1306:Stock exchange
1303:
1298:
1290:
1284:
1278:
1272:
1271:
1268:
1267:
1265:
1264:
1259:
1257:Prime Minister
1254:
1249:
1244:
1243:
1242:
1237:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1176:
1170:
1164:
1163:
1160:
1159:
1157:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1120:
1114:
1108:
1107:
1100:
1098:
1096:
1095:
1093:Hurricane Ivan
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
994:
992:
986:
985:
976:
974:
973:
966:
959:
951:
945:
944:
938:
930:
929:External links
927:
924:
923:
897:
871:
859:
833:
822:on 23 May 2015
800:
771:
759:
747:F2131.I85 1989
727:
697:
669:
668:
666:
663:
662:
661:
654:
651:
630:
627:
621:
620:Petty Sessions
618:
604:
601:
573:
570:
541:
538:
501:
500:
498:
497:
490:
483:
475:
472:
471:
469:
468:
462:
449:
448:
445:
444:
439:
434:
429:
422:
421:
410:
409:
408:
407:
395:
390:
389:
386:
385:
382:
381:
376:
371:
369:Constituencies
365:
360:
359:
356:
355:
352:
351:
350:Petty Sessions
348:
345:
340:
335:
329:
324:
323:
320:
319:
316:
315:
310:
305:
303:
302:
297:
292:
285:
282:
277:
276:
273:
272:
269:
268:
267:
266:
264:Peter Phillips
256:
255:
254:
253:
252:
242:
241:
240:
224:
221:
220:
217:
216:
213:
212:
207:
202:
201:
200:
198:Andrew Holness
193:Prime Minister
190:
189:
188:
173:
172:
171:
160:
157:
156:
153:
152:
149:
148:
140:
139:
134:
127:
126:
41:
39:
32:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1817:
1806:
1803:
1801:
1798:
1796:
1793:
1792:
1790:
1775:
1772:
1770:
1767:
1765:
1762:
1760:
1757:
1755:
1752:
1750:
1747:
1745:
1742:
1740:
1737:
1735:
1732:
1730:
1727:
1725:
1722:
1720:
1717:
1715:
1712:
1710:
1707:
1705:
1702:
1700:
1697:
1695:
1692:
1690:
1687:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1676:
1674:
1666:
1660:
1659:United States
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1577:
1575:
1572:
1570:
1567:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1546:
1544:
1540:
1531:
1526:
1524:
1519:
1517:
1512:
1511:
1508:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1487:
1482:
1478:
1475:
1471:
1470:
1466:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1397:
1395:
1393:
1389:
1383:
1380:
1378:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1357:Ethnic groups
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1339:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1327:
1317:
1314:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1285:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1273:
1263:
1262:Privy Council
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1248:
1245:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1232:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1190:Chief Justice
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1177:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1165:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1121:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1109:
1104:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
995:
993:
991:
987:
983:
979:
972:
967:
965:
960:
958:
953:
952:
949:
942:
939:
936:
933:
932:
928:
911:
907:
901:
898:
885:
881:
875:
872:
868:
863:
860:
848:
844:
837:
834:
821:
817:
813:
807:
805:
801:
789:. 12 May 2015
788:
784:
778:
776:
772:
768:
763:
760:
748:
744:
740:
739:
731:
728:
712:
706:
704:
702:
698:
685:
679:
677:
675:
671:
664:
660:
657:
656:
652:
650:
646:
644:
640:
636:
628:
626:
619:
617:
613:
609:
603:Parish Courts
602:
600:
598:
594:
590:
585:
583:
579:
578:Chief Justice
572:Supreme Court
571:
569:
566:
562:
557:
555:
551:
547:
539:
537:
535:
531:
527:
524:Jamaica is a
522:
519:
515:
511:
510:
507:judiciary of
496:
491:
489:
484:
482:
477:
476:
474:
473:
467:
464:
463:
461:
451:
450:
443:
440:
438:
435:
433:
430:
428:
425:
424:
420:
416:
413:
412:
406:
402:
401:
400:
397:
396:
393:
388:
387:
380:
377:
375:
372:
370:
367:
366:
363:
358:
357:
349:
346:
344:
343:Supreme Court
341:
339:
336:
334:
331:
330:
327:
322:
321:
314:
311:
309:
306:
301:
298:
296:
293:
291:
287:
286:
284:
283:
280:
275:
274:
265:
262:
261:
260:
257:
251:
248:
247:
246:
243:
239:
236:
235:
234:
231:
230:
229:
226:
225:
219:
218:
211:
208:
206:
203:
199:
196:
195:
194:
191:
187:
186:Patrick Allen
184:
183:
181:
177:
174:
170:
167:
166:
165:
162:
161:
155:
154:
151:
150:
146:
142:
141:
137:
132:
123:
120:
112:
109:December 2013
101:
98:
94:
91:
87:
84:
80:
77:
73:
70: –
69:
65:
64:Find sources:
58:
54:
48:
47:
42:This article
40:
36:
31:
30:
27:
19:
1764:Sint Maarten
1744:Saint Martin
1618:
1410:Coat of arms
1347:Demographics
1288:Central bank
1209:
1195:Constitution
914:. Retrieved
910:the original
900:
888:. Retrieved
884:the original
874:
869:, article 22
862:
850:. Retrieved
846:
836:
824:. Retrieved
820:the original
815:
791:. Retrieved
786:
769:, article 10
762:
750:. Retrieved
737:
730:
718:. Retrieved
688:. Retrieved
647:
632:
623:
614:
610:
606:
586:
575:
558:
545:
543:
523:
506:
504:
347:Parish Court
325:
308:by-elections
115:
106:
96:
89:
82:
75:
63:
51:Please help
46:verification
43:
26:
1734:Puerto Rico
1644:Saint Lucia
1594:El Salvador
1367:Immigration
1240:Royal tours
1220:LGBT rights
1058:Baptist War
1048:Tacky's War
787:The Gleaner
582:Bryan Sykes
556:in London.
530:English law
442:Visa policy
222:Legislative
169:Charles III
1789:Categories
1729:Montserrat
1724:Martinique
1719:Guadeloupe
1574:Costa Rica
1440:Newspapers
1430:Literature
1295:(currency)
1247:Parliament
1023:Port Royal
546:ex officio
526:common law
419:in Jamaica
403:Minister:
228:Parliament
79:newspapers
1714:Greenland
1629:Nicaragua
1604:Guatemala
1372:Languages
1352:Education
1316:Transport
1210:Judiciary
1200:Elections
1112:Geography
1018:Governors
597:Gun Court
326:Judiciary
288:General:
279:Elections
238:President
158:Executive
1679:Anguilla
1614:Honduras
1584:Dominica
1559:Barbados
1490:Category
1377:Religion
1230:Monarchy
1225:Military
1168:Politics
1144:Parishes
982:articles
653:See also
589:parishes
432:Passport
1709:Curaçao
1694:Bonaire
1689:Bermuda
1619:Jamaica
1599:Grenada
1554:Bahamas
1474:Outline
1415:Cuisine
1392:Culture
1330:Society
1293:Dollar
1276:Economy
1185:Cabinet
1139:Islands
1033:Maroons
998:Arawaks
990:History
978:Jamaica
916:13 June
890:13 June
852:13 June
752:12 June
720:12 June
690:12 June
643:CARICOM
509:Jamaica
250:Speaker
205:Cabinet
164:Monarch
93:scholar
1634:Panama
1624:Mexico
1569:Canada
1564:Belize
1495:Portal
1405:Cinema
1400:Anthem
1362:Health
1149:Rivers
1124:Cities
1028:Piracy
1003:Taínos
980:
826:2 June
793:2 June
745:
233:Senate
95:
88:
81:
74:
66:
1684:Aruba
1609:Haiti
1481:Index
1450:Sport
1435:Music
1342:Crime
1134:Flora
1129:Fauna
714:(PDF)
665:Notes
100:JSTOR
86:books
1754:Saba
1579:Cuba
1420:Flag
918:2009
892:2009
854:2009
828:2015
795:2015
754:2009
722:2009
692:2009
532:and
505:The
300:2016
295:2011
290:2007
180:list
72:news
743:LCC
55:by
1791::
845:.
814:.
803:^
785:.
774:^
700:^
673:^
591:.
417:/
182:)
1529:e
1522:t
1515:v
970:e
963:t
956:v
920:.
894:.
856:.
830:.
797:.
756:.
724:.
694:.
494:e
487:t
480:v
178:(
122:)
116:(
111:)
107:(
97:·
90:·
83:·
76:·
49:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
