Court of Appeal of Tonga explained

Court Name:Court of Appeal of Tonga
Established:1875
Jurisdiction:Tonga
Location:Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Type:Royal nomination with Privy Council of Tonga approval
Authority:Constitution of Tonga
Appealsto:Privy Council of Tonga
Chiefjudgetitle:Chief Justice of Tonga
Chiefjudgename:The Hon Michael H. Whitten QC
Termstart:2 September 2019

The Court of Appeal of Tonga is the supreme court in Tonga for all criminal and most civil matters. It hears criminal and civil appeals from the Supreme Court and also hears appeals from the Land Court.

Jurisdiction

An appeal from the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeal can be made as of by right unless it is a civil matter and the amount in dispute does not exceed T$1000. Orders made by consent, orders regarding costs, and interlocutory decisions also cannot be heard by the Court of Appeal without leave of the Court.

An appeal from the Land Court to the Court of Appeal can also be made as of by right. However, matters relating to the determination of hereditary estates and titles are appealed to the Privy Council of Tonga.

The Court of Appeal can also deliver advisory opinions when specifically requested to do so by the monarch, the Cabinet, or the Legislative Assembly.

Structure

The Court of Appeal is headed by the Chief Justice of Tonga. The Chief Justice and the other Justices of Appeal are appointed by the Privy Council and are foreign nationals, usually from other Commonwealth jurisdictions.

Chief Justices

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Appointment - Michael Whitten QC Victorian Bar . www.vicbar.com.au.
  2. Web site: Former Tonga Chief Justice Knighted. Vava΄u Press Ltd. 2 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312091233/http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/January/01-09-10.htm. 12 March 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: Geoffrey-William-MARTIN. Debretts. 17 October 2015.
  4. Book: People of Today . Debrett's Peerage Limited . en . 1995. 9781870520249 .
  5. Web site: Justice . Tonga Ministry of . Report of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on the Ministry of Justice and the Crown Law Department for the Year ... . The Ministry . en . 1994.
  6. Web site: The Times, 1981, UK.
  7. Book: Akin . David W. . Colonialism, Maasina Rule, and the Origins of Malaitan Kastom . University of Hawaii Press . en . 31 October 2013. 9780824838157 .
  8. Book: Wood-Ellem . Elizabeth . Queen Salote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900-1965 . University of Hawaii Press . en . 1 January 2001. 9780824825294 .
  9. Web site: Malo Tonga Hohoko Skeens of Tonga . malotonga.com.