The judiciary is the branch of government that is primarily responsible for interpreting

the law.

Prepared by: Mrs. Brown-for Grade 9www.moj.gov.jm/node and http://youthlinkjamaica.com/cxc/socialstudies20090217.html

The main function of the courts is to see that justice reaches people who have been wronged.

In Jamaica and most other Caribbean countries, the court system include; the Petty Sessions , the Resident Magistrate, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Privy Council which act as a final court of appeal.

The Privy Council

Court System of Jamaica

Court of Appeal – Highest court in Jamaica

Defendants have the right to appeal a conviction of any of the three trial courts to the Court of Appeal.The Court of Appeal consists of the president of the Court of Appeal, the chief justice and six judges.

Court System of Jamaica

Supreme Court –

Consists of the Chief Justice, a Senior Puisne Judge and at least twenty other Puisne Judges.

Puisne Judges must be Attorneys-at-law of at least ten years standing.

Court System of Jamaica Supreme Court -

Criminal cases come to the Circuit Court or Supreme Court from the resident magistrate.

The Supreme Court is also concerned with civil actions arising from negligence, breach of contract, slander, libel, trespass, divorce administration, equity, guardianship of infants and the estate of lunatics.

Court System of JamaicaResident Magistrate’s Court- There is one in every Parish. This Court presides over both civil and criminal matters .

This Court has no power to hold a trial for certain criminal offences including murder, treason and rape, however in such cases a Preliminary Examination or enquiry into the charge is held.

Court System of Jamaica Petty Sessions Court

Deals with minor offences and is usually presided over by a justice of the peace. This court deals with offences such as small thefts, assaults, malicious injury to property, drunkenness and cruelty to animals among other lesser crimes.

Court System of Jamaica

Traffic Court

The traffic court deals with breaches of the Road Traffic Act within the Corporate Area of Kingston and St Andrew. Traffic breaches in the other parishes are dealt with in the resident magistrate's courts.

Court System of JamaicaThe Coroner's Court

A coroner is an officer who holds inquests on the bodies of persons supposed to have died by violence or accident, in order to determine whether the death was natural or caused.