{{Short description|Highest court in the Kingdom of Tonga}} {{about|the superior court in Tonga|the highest appellate court in Tonga|Court of Appeal of Tonga}}The '''Supreme Court of Tonga''' is the superior court in Tonga. It hears criminal and civil cases and acts as an appellate court for Tonga's inferior courts, the Magistrates' Courts.
==Jurisdiction== The Supreme Court can hear appeals as of right from any judgment or decision of the Magistrates' Courts.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction to try civil matters when the amount in dispute exceeds T$500 and in all matters of divorce, probate and admiralty. It can try any criminal offence that is indictable as well as summary conviction offences that carry a maximum penalty more than T$500 and/or two years' imprisonment. The Supreme Court cannot hear appeals from the Land Court.
Appeals from decisions of the Supreme Court may be heard by the Court of Appeal, which is the final court of appeal.
==Structure== The Supreme Court is headed by the Lord Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; there are currently four active Supreme Courts in Tongatapu. The judges go on circuit to the other islands twice during the year. All Justices are appointed by the Monarch; they are usually foreign nationals from Commonwealth jurisdictions. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for two-year terms, which are renewable. The Lord Chief Justice is appointed for a 4 year term.
In 2018, Laki Niu became the first Tongan to be a member of the Court in over a hundred years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/360596/tonga-s-justice-minister-welcomes-historic-court-appointment |title=Tonga's Justice Minister welcomes historic court appointment |publisher=RNZ |date=28 June 2018 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref> In September 2020, 'Elisapeti Langi made history by becoming the first female member of the Judiciary in Tonga.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Elisapeti Langi appointed Acting Supreme Court Judge|url=https://matangitonga.to/2020/08/19/elisapeti-langi-appointed-acting-supreme-court-judge}}</ref> In July 2022 Petunia Tupou became the first woman permanently appointed.<ref name=MT2022a/>
As of May 2026 the members of the court are:<ref name=MT2022a>{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2022/07/27/petunia-tupou-appointed-new-supreme-court-judge |title=Petunia Tupou appointed new Supreme Court judge |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=27 July 2022 |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728030225/https://matangitonga.to/2022/07/27/petunia-tupou-appointed-new-supreme-court-judge |archive-date=28 July 2022}}</ref> * Lord Chief Justice Hon. Malcolm Bishop KC * Justice Petunia Tupou * Justice Nicholas Cooper<ref>{{cite web |url=https://talanoaotonga.to/garlick-kc-sworn-in-as-tonga-supreme-court-judge/ |title=Judge appointed to Tonga Supreme Court |publisher=Loop Tonga |date=8 February 2021 |access-date=28 July 2022}}</ref> *Justice Paul Garlick KC<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.looptonga.com/tonga-news/judge-appointed-tonga-supreme-court-97400 |title=Garlick KC sworn in as new Tonga Supreme Court Judge |publisher=Talanoa o Tonga |date=1 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2026}}</ref> *Justice Edward Targowski KC<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pmo.gov.to/hon-justice-edward-targowski-kc-was-formally-sworn-in-on-4-may-2026-as-a-judge-of-the-supreme-court-of-the-kingdom-of-tonga/ |title=Hon. Justice Edward Targowski, KC, was formally sworn in on 4 May 2026 as a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Tonga |publisher=The Prime Minister's Office (Government of Tonga) |date=5 May 2026 |access-date=5 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} *Jennifer Corrin-Care, Tess Newton and Don Paterson ''Introduction to South Pacific Law'' (Cavendish Publishing Ltd: London, 1999).
==External links== *[http://www.paclii.org/to/courts.html Tonga Court System Information], paclii.org *[http://www.mic.gov.to/government/got/4076-the-tongan-judiciary The Tongan Judicial], Tonga Government Portal
Category:Law of Tonga Category:Government of Tonga