About the High Court
The High Court has full jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases. Below, you can find details on its functions, divisions, case management, and hearing schedules.
Key functions of the High Court
The High Court has full original jurisdiction under Article 34 of the Constitution.
- Determines all civil and criminal cases
- Reviews the constitutionality of laws
- Acts as an appeal court for Circuit Court cases
- Handles judicial reviews of lower courts and public bodies
- Reviews Tribunal of Inquiry decisions
Jury trials in the High Court
In some civil cases, such as defamation, a judge and jury are used. A majority of 9 out of 12 jurors is required for a verdict.
High Court case management
The High Court uses a structured listing system to manage cases efficiently.
How cases are scheduled
- Filing a case
- Appealing a Circuit Court decision
- Setting a case down for trial
- Applying for an order within existing proceedings
High Court legal diary
The Legal Diary provides daily case updates and scheduling changes.
High Court divisions and specialist courts
To manage cases efficiently, the High Court has specialist divisions. Click below for further information:
Central Criminal Court
Hears serious criminal cases such as murder, rape, and treason.
Special Criminal Court
Handles organised crime and terrorism cases without a jury.
Commercial Court
Deals with high-value business disputes and commercial litigation.
Planning and Environment Court
Handles cases related to planning decisions and environmental law.
High Court case lists
Cases are assigned to different lists based on their type.
- Commercial list – Business disputes
- Judicial review list – Public body challenges
- Family law list – Divorce, guardianship
- Jury list – Civil cases requiring a jury
- Asylum list – Immigration matters
