24 Questions
What is the maximum amount of debt that can be claimed in the Magistrate's Court?
$100,000
In what type of cases can Magistrates hear and determine complaints?
Criminal and civil cases
What is the name of the Act that allows indictable cases to be tried summarily?
Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act
How many Puisne Judges are prescribed by Parliament?
20
What is the name of the division of the High Court that was opened in June 2016?
Family Court Division
What is the name of the appellate court that hears appeals from interlocutory or summary decisions of High Court judges?
Full Court of the High Court
What is the meaning of the word 'legislation'?
Making of Law
What type of matters does the High Court exercise original jurisdiction over?
Civil, commercial, Constitutional, administrative, and family matters
What is the oldest and most important source of Law?
Custom
What is the role of the Judiciary in Guyana?
To interpret laws independently
Who presides over the High Court of the Supreme Court?
The Chief Justice
What is the highest court in Guyana's judicial system?
Caribbean Court of Justice
What is the function of the Magistrates' Court?
To exercise summary jurisdiction
What is the role of the High Court in Guyana's judicial system?
To decide civil cases
What is the Court of Appeal responsible for?
Exercising appellate jurisdiction
What is the structure of Guyana's judicial system?
Four-tiered system
What is the role of the Court of Appeal in Guyana's court system?
A court of review
From which courts can the Court of Appeal hear appeals?
From the High Court, Land Court, and in some instances directly from the Magistrates' Court
What is the composition of the Court of Appeal at full strength?
The Chancellor and four Justices of Appeal
In what type of jurisdiction does the Court of Appeal hear appeals?
Both civil and criminal jurisdiction
What is the role of the Chancellor in the Court of Appeal?
All of the above
Which court replaced the Guyana Court of Appeal as the final appellate court for Guyana?
The Caribbean Court of Justice
What is the headquarters of the Caribbean Court of Justice?
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
When did Guyana join the Caribbean Court of Justice?
2005
Study Notes
Guyana's Court System
- The Court System in Guyana is a four-tiered system consisting of the Magistrates' Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Caribbean Court of Justice.
The Court of Appeal
- Governed by the Court of Appeal Act, Cap 3:01
- A court of review comprising the Chancellor, who is the head of the Judiciary of Guyana and Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, and four Justices of Appeal
- Has jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals from the High Court, Land Court, and in some instances directly from the Magistrates' Court
- Hears and determines appeals in its civil and criminal jurisdiction as well as chamber applications pertinent to these appeals
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
- Replaces the Guyana Court of Appeal as the final appellate court for Guyana
- Headquartered in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
- Guyana joined the CCJ from its inception in 2005
The High Court
- Governed by the High Court Act, Cap 3:02
- Has several divisions including the Constitutional Court, the Commercial Court, the Land Court, and the Family Court Division
- The Full Court of the High Court is an appellate court that hears appeals from interlocutory or summary decisions of High Court judges as well as appeals from the Magistrates' courts
- Exercises original jurisdiction over indictable criminal matters, civil matters, commercial matters, Constitutional matters, administrative matters, and family matters
The Magistrates' Court
- Governed by the Summary Jurisdiction (Magistrates) Act, Cap 3:05
- Has jurisdiction to hear and determine complaints in respect of summary and indictable offences
- Magistrates adjudicate in petty debt claims for the recovery of any debts or damages where the amount claimed is not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)
The Judiciary
- The Judiciary of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is the third arm of a tri-partite state and functions independently of the other arms, that is to say, the Executive and Legislative arms
- The Constitution states that all courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their function independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority
This quiz covers the Court of Appeal in Guyana, its governance, structure, and composition. It includes the role of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice.
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