The Judicature - Bahamas Court System & Judges
Source: https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/the-judicature
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
The Judicature - Bahamas Court System & Judges
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The Judicature
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The Judicature
The Government
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Structure of the Branches of Government
Governor General
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The Judicature of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
The Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council is the highest Court for The Bahamas. It sits in England to hear appeals from the Court of Appeal.
Court of Appeal
The highest tribunal resident within The Bahamas is the Court of Appeal, which sits on a full time basis throughout the year. The Court of Appeal has jurisdiction in criminal, constitutional and civil matters, which includes appeals from the Industrial Relations Tribunal, under the Constitution, the Court of Appeal Act and other statutes.
The Court of Appeal, which is separate and apart from the Supreme Court, is comprised of a President, the Chief Justice by virtue of his office as Head of the Judiciary, three resident justices of Appeal and one non-resident Justice of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are not government departments. They function as independent institutions under the Constitution.
Supreme Court
There are 12
Justices
appointed to the Bench of the Supreme Court, this is inclusive of the Chief Justice. The Justices are appointed by the Governor General acting on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. The Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction in general, civil and criminal matters.
There are two Judges assigned to the Supreme Court in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Matters from the Northern Region of The Bahamas, which includes Bimini, Abaco and Grand Bahama, are heard there unless they are transferred to New Providence for good reason.
Magistrates' Court
There are 15 Magistrates' Courts in New Providence (including one Drug Court, one Firearms Court, one Coroner's Court, one night civil court and two night traffic courts).
In Grand Bahama, there are four Magistrates' Courts (three in the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre, Freeport, and one in the Government Complex in Eight Mile Rock).
There is one Magistrate’s Court in Abaco.
These courts are presided over by
Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrates
who exercise summary jurisdiction in criminal matters and in civil matters involving amounts not exceeding BS$5,000.00.
Family Island Administrators also sit as magistrates and exercise summary jurisdiction in criminal matters of a less serious nature and in civil matters involving amounts not exceeding BS$400.00.
Court of Appeal
|
Supreme Court
|
Magistrate Court
|
Justices
|
Magistrates
|
Registrars
Quick Useful Links
The National Honours Society 2026 Call for Nominations
Budget Performance Reports
Budget Documents
Preparing Your Home and Family for a Hurricane
General Orders
Request for Expression of Interest
Hurricane Shelter Listing 2025
Install the BNEA APP
COVID-19 Frequent Asked Questions
Department of Labour’s Jobseekers Portal
Celebrate Bahamas
Load More
For Website Technical Support
Call and speak to a DICT Customer service agent.
+1 242 604 4688
Need to reach the DICT? Send us an email.
support@bahamas.gov.bs
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Accessibility Tool
Content Adjustments
Adjust Font Size
-
Default
+
Highlight Links
Letter Spacing
Dyslexia Font
Color Adjustments
Monochrome
Tools
Mute/unmute
Big Cursor
Reading Guide
The Judicature
Home
The Judicature
The Government
Overview and Structure of the Government
Structure of the Branches of Government
Governor General
The Judiciary
Overview of Judicial Branch
The Judicature
Table of Precedence for The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
The Executive Branch
Prime Minister
The Cabinet
Cabinet Ministers
Central Government
PSC Regulations
General Orders
The Legislative Branch
About the Parliament
The Senate
Senators
The House of Assembly
Local Government
Legal Process
|
Administration
|
Dress Code
The Judicature of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
The Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council is the highest Court for The Bahamas. It sits in England to hear appeals from the Court of Appeal.
Court of Appeal
The highest tribunal resident within The Bahamas is the Court of Appeal, which sits on a full time basis throughout the year. The Court of Appeal has jurisdiction in criminal, constitutional and civil matters, which includes appeals from the Industrial Relations Tribunal, under the Constitution, the Court of Appeal Act and other statutes.
The Court of Appeal, which is separate and apart from the Supreme Court, is comprised of a President, the Chief Justice by virtue of his office as Head of the Judiciary, three resident justices of Appeal and one non-resident Justice of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are not government departments. They function as independent institutions under the Constitution.
Supreme Court
There are 12
Justices
appointed to the Bench of the Supreme Court, this is inclusive of the Chief Justice. The Justices are appointed by the Governor General acting on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. The Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction in general, civil and criminal matters.
There are two Judges assigned to the Supreme Court in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Matters from the Northern Region of The Bahamas, which includes Bimini, Abaco and Grand Bahama, are heard there unless they are transferred to New Providence for good reason.
Magistrates' Court
There are 15 Magistrates' Courts in New Providence (including one Drug Court, one Firearms Court, one Coroner's Court, one night civil court and two night traffic courts).
In Grand Bahama, there are four Magistrates' Courts (three in the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre, Freeport, and one in the Government Complex in Eight Mile Rock).
There is one Magistrate’s Court in Abaco.
These courts are presided over by
Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrates
who exercise summary jurisdiction in criminal matters and in civil matters involving amounts not exceeding BS$5,000.00.
Family Island Administrators also sit as magistrates and exercise summary jurisdiction in criminal matters of a less serious nature and in civil matters involving amounts not exceeding BS$400.00.
Court of Appeal
|
Supreme Court
|
Magistrate Court
|
Justices
|
Magistrates
|
Registrars
Quick Useful Links
The National Honours Society 2026 Call for Nominations
Budget Performance Reports
Budget Documents
Preparing Your Home and Family for a Hurricane
General Orders
Request for Expression of Interest
Hurricane Shelter Listing 2025
Install the BNEA APP
COVID-19 Frequent Asked Questions
Department of Labour’s Jobseekers Portal
Celebrate Bahamas
Load More
For Website Technical Support
Call and speak to a DICT Customer service agent.
+1 242 604 4688
Need to reach the DICT? Send us an email.
support@bahamas.gov.bs
Get in touch with our DICT support team.
get in touch
Explore frequently asked questions.
ask question
This site uses cookies to serve our services. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
Okay, Thanks