Judiciary of Sierra Leone

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Politics of Sierra Leone

Constitution

* Human rights

Executive

* President (list)

Julius Maada Bio
* Vice-President

Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh
* Chief Minister (list)

Jacob Jusu Saffa
* Cabinet

Legislative

* Parliament

Speaker: Segepoh Solomon Thomas
Members of Parliament

Judiciary

* Supreme Court

Chief Justice: A. H. Charm
* Human rights

Elections

* Political parties
* Recent elections

* General: 2012
* 2018
* 2023

Administrative divisions

* Provinces
* Districts
* Chiefdoms

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation

Minister: Nabeela Tunis

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* Diplomatic missions of / in Sierra Leone

* * *

* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

Sierra Leone portal

* v
* t
* e

Supreme Court building, Freetown

The Judiciary of Sierra Leone is the branch of the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone which interprets and applies the laws of Sierra Leone to ensure impartial justice under law and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution. The independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by the constitution.

The judicial system, headed by the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, comprises the inferior courts, represented by the Magistrates courts and the Local courts and the superior courts, represented by the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

## Magistrate's Court

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A Magistrate's Court exists for each judicial district with limited powers to do what is legally necessary to adjudicate on all civil and criminal matters arising within the district for which it is established. Such jurisdiction is exercised by the Magistrate duly appointed to the court.

## Local Courts

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Local courts administer customary law in provincial communities outside the Western Area.

## The High Court of Justice

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The High Court has supervisory jurisdiction over all inferior and traditional Courts in Sierra Leone.

The High Court consists of the Chief Justice and 9 puisne judges. A High Court hearing is duly constituted by any one judge of the High Court sitting with a jury.

## The Court of Appeal

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The Court of Appeal consists of the Chief Justice and not less than seven other justices of the court of appeal or any other judge of the superior court of judicature and the chief justice may preside. An Appeal Court hearing involves at least three justices of the Appeal Court. And the most Senior preside that's coordinate the proceedings.

It has jurisdiction throughout sierra Leone to hear and determine appeal from the judgements, orders or directives of the high court of justice. It jurisdiction is therefore limited to just appeals.

## The Supreme Court

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Main article: Supreme Court of Sierra Leone

The Supreme Court has final jurisdiction in all civil, criminal, and constitutional cases within Sierra Leone and its decisions cannot be appealed. The Supreme Court has the exclusive constitutional power to overturn the rulings of lower courts within the jurisdiction. It also has exclusive original jurisdiction in matters relating to the enforcement or interpretation of any provision of the constitution and on whether an enactment has been made by Parliament or any other authority or person in excess of their power under the Constitution.

It consists of the Chief Justice and not less than four other justices. A Supreme Court hearing comprises not less than three justices of the Supreme Court.

## Courts Martial

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Courts Martial are empowered to try any person subject to military law, in addition to offences against the general law which are applicable to all persons who join the army. They can convened by the Force Commander or any General, Brigadier or Colonel or Officer of corresponding rank. A Court Martial consists of the President and not less than two other Officers, or in the trial of an Officer or Warrant Officer, no less than five other Officers.

## Appointment of Judges

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The Chief Justice and Judges of the Superior Court are appointed by the President of Sierra Leone acting on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission subject to the approval of Parliament. They can retire after reaching the age of 60 but must retire at the age of 65. They may be removed from office at any time in the event of misconduct or infirmity.

## References

[edit]

* "Sierra Leone Legal System and Legal Research". Hauser Global Law School Program. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
* "THE JUDICIARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE". Government of Sierra Leone. Archived from the original on August 10, 2003. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

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Sierra Leone articles

History|

* Atlantic slave trade
* (1600–1787)
* British colony (1787–1961)
* Sierra Leone in World War II (1939–1945)
* Early independence (1961–1978)
* 1961–71
* Civil War (1991–2002)
* 2002 to present
* 2014 Ebola virus epidemic
* COVID-19 pandemic

Geography|

* Borders
* Cities and towns
* Climate
* Protected areas
* Upper Guinean forests
* Water supply
* Wildlife

Politics|

* Administrative divisions
* Cabinet
* Chief Minister
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Government
* Human rights
* Judiciary
* Supreme Court
* Law enforcement
* Military
* Chief of the Defence Staff
* Parliament
* Political parties
* President
* Vice President
* Special Court (defunct)

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Banking
* Central bank
* Leone (currency)
* Mining
* Telecommunications
* Tourism
* Trade unions
* Transport

Society|

* Abortion
* Child marriage
* Demographics
* Disability
* Education
* Ethnic groups
* Female genital mutilation
* Health
* Human trafficking
* Languages
* LGBTQ rights
* Polygamy
* Prostitution
* Religion
* Women

Culture|

* Anthem
* Art
* Coat of arms
* Cuisine
* Flag
* Media
* Music
* Sports

* Outline

* Category
* Portal

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Judiciaries of Africa

Sovereign states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with limited
recognition

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Dependencies and
other territories

* Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (Spain)
* Madeira (Portugal)
* Mayotte / Réunion (France)
* Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom)

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