The Judicial Branch

The Cayman Islands has three resident judges, three magistrates and over 140 justices of the peace, some of whom serve as lay magistrates.

The governor appoints magistrates, judges, and the chief justice on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a body newly formed by the 2009 Constitution.

Justice in the Cayman Islands is administered at three levels - in the Summary Court (including the Juvenile and Drug Rehabilitation courts), the Grand Court and the Court of Appeal.

The Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction to try all summary offences committed by juveniles under 17 years of age. The Court is presided over by a magistrate sitting alone or with two justices of the peace, at least one of whom must be of the opposite gender to the magistrate, or by three justices of the peace, at least one of whom must be a woman.

The Summary Court has a civil and criminal jurisdiction. One or two magistrates normally exercise jurisdiction, although provision is made for two lay justices of the peace to preside. Coroner's inquests are held in Summary Court where a magistrate sits with a jury as coroner for the Islands. Appeals from the Summary Court lie to the Grand Court.

The Grand Court is a superior court of record and administers the common law and the law of equity of England, as well as locally enacted laws and applied laws. A dedicated financial services division of the Grand Court opened in November 2009.

Appeals from the Grand Court lie to the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, composed of a president and not less than two judges of appeal. Further appeal lies, in certain circumstances, to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.

Last Updated: 2009-11-06