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Privy Council struck down the change to the final appellate court as unconstitutional because the Privy Council's status is an entrenched provision in the Jamaican Constitution and as such more would be required to remove the Privy Council as the final appellate court. The Council ruled that although Parliament was within its powers to remove appellate jurisdiction from the Privy Council, it could not grant jurisdiction to the CCJ through an ordinary act. Instead, such a change must meet the more rigorous standards for amending "entrenched" provisions of the Jamaican Constitution. As a result, the Privy Council remains the final court of appeal for Jamaica. As of June 2015, three bills which would abolish appeals to the Privy Council and make the CCJ Jamaica's final court of appeal have passed the House of Representatives and have been sent to the Senate where they must be approved by a two-thirds majority to become law.
145: 455: 1103: 35: 584:). Besides the Chief Justice, the court is composed of the Senior Puisne Judge and additional Puisne Judges, with their number established by Parliament. In response to increasing case load, Parliament in 2008 increased the number of spaces on the Supreme Court from 26 to 40 with the new spaces filled over time by appointment of new judges. 648:
In 2004 the Jamaican Parliament approved the establishment of the CCJ as the highest court in its Original Jurisdiction in the interpretation of the Revised Treaty of Chagaramus, while at the same time attempting to replace Privy Council as the final appellate court in Jamaica. However, in 2005 the
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in London. The Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court. The Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction in all cases, and sits as the Circuit Court to try criminal cases. The Parish Court (formerly known as the Resident Magistrate's court) in each parish hears both criminal and civil cases,
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Resident Magistrates or Parish Court are appointed by the Governor General on recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission. They are assigned to a parish by the Chief Justice and report to the Chief Justice. The minimum qualification for the Resident Magistrate is five (5) years at the Bar.
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Each parish has a Parish Court with power to hear civil and criminal matters. The jurisdiction of each court extends one mile beyond the border of its parish. Severe crimes such as rape, treason, and murder are not tried by the Parish Courts, but are referred to the Supreme Court after a
599:, the Commercial Court, the Revenue Court, and the Family Court. In the civil division of the Supreme Court the judge sits alone without the jury, except in cases of defamation. The Supreme Court also serves as a Constitutional Court for Jamaica. 624:
The Petty Sessions hear minor criminal matters, such as resisting arrest. Justices of the Peace serve as judges in the Petty Sessions. Petty Session Courts require a minimum of two Justices of the Peace, to be properly constituted.
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as Jamaica's final court of appeal. The reform will be debated by the Senate. However, the government will need the support of at least one opposition senator for the measures to be approved by the required two-thirds majority.
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The Parish Courts also have a number of divisions, including the Family Court, Coroners Court, Tax Court, Juvenile Court, Traffic Court, Small Claims Court, Night Court, Drug Court, and Gun Court (Parish Court Division).
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The Supreme Court has a number of divisions, in which a subset of the justices hear specific types of cases. The Circuit Court is the division for criminal cases, holding sessions in the individual
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of the Court of Appeal, but participates only when asked to do so by the President. Although the Court of Appeal is the highest court in Jamaica, its judgements may themselves be appealed to the
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The Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court in Jamaica; it is superior to the Supreme Court. The Court is composed of a President and six other Judges. The Chief Justice is also a judge
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states that the "Circuit Court for every parish in this Island shall be the Appeal Court for matters arising in every such parish." Other divisions of the Supreme Court are the
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approved with the necessary two-thirds majority bills to end legal appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and make the
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excluding grave offences. The Petty Sessions are held under Justices of the Peace, with power to hear minor crimes.
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Hudson, Rex A.; Seyler, Daniel J. (1989). "Jamaica". In Meditz, Sandra W.; Hanratty, Dennis M. (eds.).
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The Supreme Court has unlimited original jurisdiction in criminal and civil cases. The
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of the Supreme Court is the head of the judiciary (currently
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In 2001 Jamaica signed the agreement establishing the
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Ministry of Justice of Jamaica. 2004 552:, in which case they are heard by the 1509: 950: 898: 840: 738:Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean 678: 676: 674: 536:tradition may be taken into account. 976: 57:adding citations to reliable sources 28: 841:Lewis, Taneisha (13 January 2009). 806: 804: 777: 775: 711:"The Annual Court Report - 2002-03" 24: 671: 539: 25: 1819: 928: 619: 1652:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1101: 801: 772: 602: 571: 453: 143: 33: 514:judiciary of the United Kingdom 44:needs additional citations for 860: 760: 13: 1: 1083:Jamaica Independence Act 1962 818:. 22 May 2015. Archived from 1777:United States Virgin Islands 937:from the Ministry of Justice 7: 1382:Water supply and sanitation 652: 10: 1824: 686:. 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Court of Appeal (Jamaica)

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Politics of Jamaica

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Charles III
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