Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has its own rules and practice directions. These rules are contained in the Civil Proceedings Rules 1998, as amended, the Family Proceedings Rules 1998, as amended and practice directions which are available on this website.

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Overview

The Supreme Court of Judicature is made up of The Court of Appeal and the High Court, as is provided under section 99 of the Constitution which states: “There shall be a Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago consisting of a High Court and a Court of Appeal with such jurisdiction and powers as conferred on these Courts respectively by this Constitution or any other law.”

Composition of the Supreme Court

Masters of the High Court have similar jurisdiction to Judges of the High Court sitting in Chambers, except for matters where statute expressly limits their jurisdiction (such as the exercise of powers to imprison or to grant interlocutory injunctions).

Legislation amending the Supreme Court of Judicature Act and passed in the Parliament earlier this year, approved the largest increase to the statutory complement of Judges since the country’s independence in 1962. The new provisions allow for 36 Judges, an increase of 13 at the High Court level, and for 12 Judges, up from nine in the Court of Appeal. There are at present three Masters of the High Court.