Judicial Systems

This section details the basis and jurisdiction of the legal system and the court structure, covering the system of appeal and the role of the subordinate courts. The Commonwealth has a mix of legal systems reflecting the countries’ history and culture including English Common law, Roman-Dutch law, Federal law, customary law and Sharia law. The profiles also include details on regional and international judicial centres such as the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Also included in the country profiles are particulars on the appointment of key players in the judicial system and the location of the final court of appeal if it is based in another country such as the UK Privy Council for some Commonwealth member states.