Judicial System of The Bahamas

Supreme court: Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Ministry: Legal Affairs

The Bahamas Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the magistrates’ courts all have civil and criminal jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court is staffed by the chief justice and 11 justices (2013) and sits in Nassau on New Providence island and Freeport on Grand Bahama.

The magistrates’ courts are presided over by magistrates in New Providence and Grand Bahama, and by the island administrators in the Family Islands. Since 2006 when the coroners’ court was closed, the magistrates have been empowered to hear inquests.
The Privy Council in the UK is the final court of appeal.