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Below is a brief illustration of respective judicial bodies:
First: Courts and their Jurisdictions
In accordance with Article 21 of Law no 6/2006 mentioned
above, Courts are formed as:
A. Summary Courts
B. Courts of First Instance
C. Courts of Appeal
D. Supreme Court
A- Summary Courts
A Summary Court is a first instance court and is competent
to decide on some civil and commercial cases not exceeding a
maximum of 1000 dinars in value and mostly personal status
cases. It is also competent to examine contraventions and
misdemeanors and appeal judgments issued by Courts of First
Instance under its judicial circuit.
Summary Courts number (135), spread in all cities and
villages, thus reflecting judicial decentralization and the
principle of bringing litigants nearer to justice.
B- Courts of First Instance
The Court of First Instance is competent to examine all civil and
commercial suits of high value as well as litigations with no
specific value. It is composed of three sitting judges, each of
whom is no less than grade one. It shall look into contestations
filed by persons concerned regarding judgments issued by
Summary Courts, and in this case, it consists of three judges, at
least two of whom are no less than grade one. It maintains the
general jurisdiction of examining cases, or in other words
decides on all disputes and crimes, unless otherwise provided
for (Article 16 of Judicature Law).