The Court of Appeal of Tonga is the first of the superior courts in which the Constitution vests the judicial power of the Kingdom, with the Supreme Court and the Land Court, beside a subordinate Magistrate’s Court. Under article 85 it consists of the Lord President of the Court of Appeal and such other judges as the King appoints with the consent of the Privy Council, after advice from the Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel,. Under article 92 it has exclusive power to hear appeals from the Supreme Court and the Land Court, except matters of hereditary estates and titles and of Tongan custom, which go to the King in Privy Council. The World Factbook archive lists it as the highest court and records the constitution of 4 November 1875.
Facts
Founding Year Jurisdiction Scope
Jurisdiction Scope (category) Connections
In Legal System
Source Central Intelligence Agency: Tonga, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
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Source Court of Appeal, Ministry of Justice of Tonga, Internet Archive copy of justice.gov.toAbout the Court of Appeal, sessions held at Nuku’alofa (seat)Quote, About the Court of Appeal, sessions held at Nuku’alofa (seat)
The Court of Appeal sits at Nuku’alofa twice a year for up to two weeks each session.
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Source Tonga 1875 (rev. 2025) Constitution, Court of Appeal, Constitute ProjectArticle 84, superior courts of the Kingdom of TongaQuote, Article 84, superior courts of the Kingdom of Tonga
The judicial power of the Kingdom shall be vested in the superior courts of the Kingdom (namely the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the Land Court) and a subordinate court namely the Magistrate's Court.
Sources
1. Tonga 1875 (rev. 2025) Constitution, Court of Appeal, Constitute Project
Article 84, judicial power vested in the superior courts
The judicial power of the Kingdom shall be vested in the superior courts of the Kingdom (namely the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the Land Court) and a subordinate court namely the Magistrate's Court.
Article 92, jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal shall have exclusive power and jurisdiction to hear and determine all appeals which by virtue of this Constitution or of any Act of the Legislative Assembly lie from the Supreme Court or Land Court
Article 85, composition of the Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal shall consist of the Lord President of the Court of Appeal and of such other judges as may be appointed from time to time by the King with the consent of Privy Council, after receiving advice from the Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel
Article 92, matters excepted from the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal
(excepting matters relating to the determination of hereditary estates and titles and matters relating to Tongan custom according to clause 89A) or any judge thereof and shall have such further or other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by any such Act.
Privy Council, appeals on custom
His Majesty in Privy Council shall be the appellate court to hear any appeal from a decision made in the Magistrate's Court, the Land Court or the Supreme Court in respect of customs and its application under clause 89A of the Constitution
View the Source2. Central Intelligence Agency: Tonga, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyGovernment, constitution, history, the 1875 Constitution that provides for the Court of Appeal
adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
Government, judicial branch, highest court
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch)
In Category: Courts, Government, judicial branch, courts of Tonga
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch)
In Legal System: Law of Tonga, Government, legal system
English common law
View the Source 3. Court of Appeal, Ministry of Justice of Tonga, Internet Archive copy of justice.gov.to
About the Court of Appeal, sessions held at Nuku’alofaQuote, About the Court of Appeal, sessions held at Nuku’alofa
The Court of Appeal sits at Nuku’alofa twice a year for up to two weeks each session.
Wikidata: Court of Appeal of Tonga
Wikidata Q5178328, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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