The Chief Justice is appointed by the President of the Republic after consultation with the Prime Minsiter and the Leader of the Opposition.
Other Supreme Court Judges are appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
The Supreme Court consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal which exercise all such jurisdiction and powers as
are conferred on them respectively by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, Chap, 4:01 and the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act, 1976. There are also Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and Petty Civil Courts.
There is provision for seven Justices of Appeal who, with the Chief Justice as President, comprise the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal is a superior court of record and unless as otherwise provided by Parliament has all the powers of such a court.
In hearing appeals, the Court is comprised of three Judges sitting together except when the appeal is from a summary court or from
the decision of a high Court in Chambers. In such cases, two judges would comprise the court.
Appeals from the Court of Appeal may be made to the Privy council under three circumstances:
1. as of right
2. with the leave of the Court of Appeal
3. with the special leave of the Privy Council
The High Court
There is provision for eleven Puisne Judges of the High Court.
The Chief Justice is ex officio a Judge of the High Court. The Puisne Judges have in all respects equal power, authority
and jurisdiction.
The High Court is superior court of record and unless as otherwise provided by Parliament shall have all the powers of such a
court including all power as is vested in the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago immediately before the commencement of the
Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 1976.
There is vested in the High Court all such original jurisdiciton as is vested in and exercisable by the High Court of
Justice in England under the provisions of the Supreme court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 (U.K.)
Appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court: the Chief Justice is appointed by the President of the Republic after consultation with
the Prime Minsiter and the Leader of the Opposition. The other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
There is also an INDUSTRIAL COURT and a TAX APPEAL BOARD which are both superior courts of record. Appeals from the Court
and the Board go to the Court of Appeal.
There are no Administrative Courts in Trinidad and Tobago, but there is provision for an OMBUDSMAN under Section 91 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act,1976.
The current Chief Justice is Mr. Satnarine Sharma
Source: Ministry of Public Administration and Information
Foundations of Modern Government
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