The Hierarchy of Courts in Belize is as follows:

(a) Caribbean Court of Justice - a new court which was inaugurated on April 16, 2005 in Port
of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The court is expected to serve as a court of last resort for
Caribbean states, eventually replacing the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the
United Kingdom.

Privy Council before CCJ the Privy Council was the highest court and final court of Appeal.
The Privy Council is based in England, and is presided over by Lords who also sit on the
House of Lords (the highest court of Appeal of England).

(b) Court of Appeal:

The Court of Appeal is the last appellate tribunal located in the country of Belize. It is
presided over by Justices of Appeal who hear all appeals on questions of law from the
Supreme Court.

(c) Supreme Court:

The Supreme Court has both civil and criminal jurisdiction over matters arising in Belize. It
is presided over by justices of the Supreme Court. In its criminal jurisdiction, the Supreme
Court presides over indictable offences such as murder and manslaughter, and other offences
prescribed by the Acts. In its civil jurisdiction, the Supreme Court hears all matters for any
claim or demand which exceeds the sum of $15,000.00, and also presides over some family
matters such as Divorce and division of matrimonial property.

(d) Magistrates Court and Family Court

The Magistrates Court is presided over by magistrates, who have jurisdiction over civil and
criminal matters. In its criminal jurisdiction, the magistrates court deals with summary
offences, such as theft, assault, wounding, etc. In its civil jurisdiction the court deals with
claims for debt or damages for $15,000.00 or less.

The Family Court deals primarily with Family matters, such as custody, maintenance, access
(i.e., visitation rights of a parent), occupation orders (right to occupy matrimonial home),
protection orders under the Domestic Violence Act, etc.

Whereas the Magistrates Court and Family Court are separate in Belize City, in the Districts
it is not. The magistrate for the district has jurisdiction to deal with family matters and all
other criminal and civil matters.

(e) Alcalde
The Alcalde Court is unique to Belize. The Alcalde presides as judge, and is able to settle
petty disputes, such as claims for debt or damages which does not exceed $50.00. Some rural
villages in southern Belize also have an alcalde: a local “judge” who has both an
administrative and a judicial role. Alcaldes are generally responsible for managing communal
land issues and act as school officers. This form of local governance is practiced mainly in
Mayan communities in Belize, but any rural community can choose to appoint an alcalde.

Although the CCJ is not bound to follow its own decisions, all inferior courts are bound by decisions
of the CCJ. Similarly, the Supreme Court is not bound to follow its own decisions as it is a judgment
at first instance and in the case of conflict of law, the latter in time prevails.