1. Court Structure & Hierarchy
Unit 2

2. Supreme Court of Canada
Court Hierarchy
Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of NL
Appeals Division
Federal Courts
Supreme Court of NL
Trial Division
District Court
Specialty Courts
Provincial Court

3. SUPREME COURT OF CANADA
highest court in the country
also called the Appellate court
DOES NOT hear any trials, deals with appeals of other courts ONLY!
Not all appeals will be heard, each appeal is considered and only the ones with errors in the legal process or proceedings, as well as, erroneous decisions will be heard
lawyers present a briefing of the case or trial and identify the area for appeal.
consists of a panel of judges (odd number - 3, 5, 7 or 9 judge panel) – WHY?
final decision is binding and all other courts will following the precedent

4. SUPREME COURT OF NEWFOUNDLAND
Trial Division
trials for the more serious indictable offences such as murder and armed robbery
Judge and Jury trials ONLY!
Appeals Division
Hears appeals from the trial division of this court and lower provincial courts.

5. DISTRICT COURT
All criminal trials EXCEPT the most serious indictable ones.
Judge alone or judge and jury trial (Choice depending on the criminal offence)

6. PROVINCIAL COURTS preliminary hearings, entering pleas, bail hearings
less serious indictable and summary convictions offences

7. SPECIALTY COURTS deals with specific areas of the law only
ie. Traffic, juvenile, Family, Surrogate (wills/estate)

8. FEDERAL COURT a special court for government
claims and complaints against any government by anyone
disputes between various levels of government
cases and appeals from various government boards and branches (Ie. Employment Insurance, Worker’s Compensation, Revenue Canada - Taxes)
copyrights, trademarks, patents & incorporations