Courts of Ireland
A single chain of courts from the District Court up to the Supreme Court, plus a special court for some serious crimes.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Courts
Supreme CourtAlso decides whether laws match the Constitution
Court of Appeal
High CourtUnlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters
Circuit Court
District CourtMost cases begin here
Stands apart from the chain of appeals
Special Criminal CourtHears some serious crimes without a jury
Worth knowing
- There is no separate constitutional court: the High Court and the Supreme Court decide constitutional questions.
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Read the Ireland profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Sources
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s court-structure diagrams are simplified on purpose and are not legal advice. Report a mistake.
