The courts of Sierra Leone
How the courts are arranged and what each one does, in the Judiciary's own words.
Posted By lanbuk.com
Everything on this page is taken from the Judiciary of Sierra Leone's own publications, linked beside each part. For a case, always check with the court registry.
How the courts are arranged
“The Superior Court of Judicature consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Justice and the inferior Courts consist of the Magistrate and Local Courts.”
Source: Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Strategic Plan 2016–2021
Superior Court of Judicature
Inferior courts
In the Judiciary's words, the Court of Appeal hears appeals from the High Court, and the Supreme Court is the final court of appeal. This page does not set out appeal routes from the inferior courts; check the Courts Act, 1965 and the Local Courts Act, 2011.
The courts
The Supreme Court
“The Supreme Court is the final Court of appeal, and has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all questions relating to the interpretation of the Constitution. The Supreme Court sits to hear cases which require final decision with a bench of 5 Justices maximum.”
The Court of Appeal
“The Court of Appeal shall have jurisdiction throughout Sierra Leone to hear and determine, subject to the provisions of this section and of this Constitution, appeals from any judgement, decree or order of the High Court of Justice or any Justice thereof and such other appellate jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by this Constitution or any other law.”
Source: Judiciary of Sierra Leone: The Court of Appeal (citing section 129 of the 1991 Constitution)
The High Court of Justice
“The High Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters and such other original appellate and other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by this Constitution or any other law. (2) The High Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction to determine any matter relating to industrial and labour disputes and administrative complaints.”
Source: Judiciary of Sierra Leone: The High Court (citing section 132 of the 1991 Constitution)
Magistrates' Courts
“The primary inferior court of judicature is the Magistrate's Court. Pursuant to the Courts Act, Act No 31 of 1965, Sierra Leone is constituted into Judicial Districts and Section 4 of the Act states that there shall be constituted Magistrate's Court in and for every judicial district. Magistrate's Courts have limited jurisdiction.”
Source: Judiciary of Sierra Leone: Magistrates' Courts (citing sections 4 and 8 of the Courts Act, 1965)
Local Courts
“Administratively, Magistrates Courts should be operational in each district, and there should be at least one local court in each of the 149 chiefdoms of Sierra Leone. The Local Courts Act No 10 of 2011, integrates the Local Courts within the Judiciary. … Local Courts administer customary law, and preside over matters of marriage, divorce, succession, and land tenure in the provinces.”
For the Local Courts and the written law on customary matters, see customary law and Local Courts.
Rules of court
- High Court Rules, 2007Read and download on Lanbuk.
- The Court of Appeal Rules, Public Notice No. 29 (1985)Listed on the Judiciary's Rules & Procedures page.
- Supreme Court Rules, Public Notice No. 1 (1982)Listed on the Judiciary's Rules & Procedures page.
- Commercial Court RulesListed on the Judiciary's Rules & Procedures page.
- Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 (Act No. 6 of 1991)Read and download on Lanbuk.
The Judiciary's Rules & Procedures page
Judges and judgments
Lanbuk lists the judges named in the judgments it holds, each with their judgments: judges of the Sierra Leone courts. Browse all Sierra Leone case law.
Cause lists
The Judiciary's website has pages for weekly cause lists, but they do not currently list cases. To find when a case is listed, contact the registry of the court hearing it, or the Judiciary below.
Contact the Judiciary
- Law Courts Building, Cotton Tree, Freetown
- +232 22 223246
- Public Relations Unit: +232 76 617548
- info@judiciary.gov.sl
- www.judiciary.gov.sl
As published on the Judiciary's Contact Us page.
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