Below is a chart showing the hierarchy of the Barbados Court System

The Caribbean Court of Justice

COLR

7 justices sitting en banc or in panels of 5

Jurisdiction:
  • Appeals from the Barbados Court of Appeal
  • Original Jurisdiction proceedings under the Treaty of Chaguaramas

The Court of Appeal

IAC

5 justices sitting in 3-judge panels

Jurisdiction:
  • Appeals from the High Court
  • Appeals from a Magistrate’s Court;
  • Appeals from a statutory tribunal;
  • Appeals or applications expressly provided for in the CPR;
  • Appeals by way of case stated on a question of law.

The High Court

GJC

8 judges sitting individually

Jurisdiction:
  • Criminal jury trials
  • Miscellaneous Civil trials and applications and Family proceedings
  • Appeals from tribunals or persons under an enactment

The Magistrate’s Courts

LJC

II magistrates sitting individually

Jurisdiction:
  • Small claims/Miscellaneous civil claims;
  • Wrongful Dismissal proceedings;
  • Preliminary inquiries in criminal matters;
  • Summary conviction offences;
  • Traffic offences

LEGEND: COLR = Court of Last Resort; |AC=|ntermediate Appellate Court; GJC=Genera| Jurisdiction Court; LJC=Limited Jurisdiction Court;