Judicial System of Belize

Supreme court: Supreme Court

Ministry: Attorney-General

The justice system is broadly based on English Common Law, with the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and magistrates’ courts. The Supreme Court hears serious civil and criminal cases before judges and jury. The Court of Appeal generally sits four times a year.

Preliminary hearings of less serious civil cases are in the district courts and those of criminal cases are in summary jurisdiction courts. Both district and summary jurisdiction courts are magistrates’ courts.

In June 2010 the Caribbean Court of Justice in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, became the final court of appeal, replacing the Privy Council in the UK.