2.2 IRISH COURT SYSTEM

DISTRICT COURT

LOCATION

24 Districts around Ireland

CONSISTS OF

President of the District Court

63 Ordinary judges

MATTER HEARD BY

1 Judge alone

ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

Monetary Limit €15,000 or less

Civil: Contract/tort/debt recovery/barring orders/liquor licence renewal/Children's court

Criminal: Summary offences, non-jury, indictable (minor) with agreement

CIRCUIT COURT

LOCATION

8 circuits

CONSISTS OF

President of the circuit Court

37 Ordinary judges

President of the District Court ex officio

MATTER HEARD BY

1 judge alone (jury)

ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

€15,001 - €75,000

Civil: Contract/tort/family-divorce/jud separation

Criminal - Indictable - Sexual offences, assault, robbery

HIGH COURT

LOCATION

Dublin - it also sits on circuit around the country

CONSISTS OF

President of the High Court

37 Ordinary judges

President of the Circuit Court ex officio

MATTER HEARD BY

Usually 1 judge alone

Jury required for CIVIL CASES - defamation, assault and battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution

3 Judges if President of the High Court directs

COURT OF APPEAL

LOCATION

Dublin only

CONSISTS OF

President of the Court of Appeal

9 Ordinary judges

Chief justice and President of the High Court ex offico

MATTER HEARD BY

May sit in divisions of 3, sometimes one alone

APPELLATE JURISDICTION

Hears Civil Appeals: From High Court

Hears criminal appeals: From Circuit Court, Central Criminal Court, Special Criminal Court