High Court of New Zealand

The High Court is the highest civil and criminal court of New Zealand.

Role and structure of the court

The Judicature Act of 1908 divided the courts of New Zealand in subordinate and superior courts. The High Court was one of the higher courts. Its decisions are for the lower courts, as the District Court (District Court ), the Youth Courts ( Juvenile Court ), the Family Courts ( Family Court ), the Māori land Court ( Court on issues of Māori land ) and the Waitangi Tribunal binding, the Court applies to them as the Court of Appeal. Appeal from other courts, such as the Employment Court ( Labour Court ), the Martial Appeals Court ( military court ), the Māori Appellate Court ( Māori Appellate Court ) and felony, which were decided by the District Court, however, go directly to the Court of Appeal ( Court of Appeal).

Judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are judges who are working in the High Court. The High Court is a national court which, in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch has permanent seats. If necessary, find court sessions held in other parts of the country.

History

The High Court was established in December 1841 under the name of Supreme Court and negotiated its first case in January of the following year under the chairmanship of Chief Justice William Martin. The Court based on the legal system of English common law. In order to be appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court may, you had to have served at least seven years as an attorney or lawyer in court in the UK or as an advocate before the then Supreme Court in New Zealand.

The Judicature Act of 1908, the influence of British law in New Zealand was reduced and redefined the role of the then Supreme Court. In 1980, the Supreme Court in " High Court " renamed. Thus the name " Supreme Court " 2004 was released for today's Supreme Court of New Zealand.