Supreme Court - Criminal Jurisdiction
Information
The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in criminal matters will increase when the Court of Criminal Appeal is abolished.
Rules
- The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear an appeal from the Court of Criminal Appeal if the Court of Criminal Appeal or the Attorney General certifies that the decision
- involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and
- it is desirable in the public interest that an appeal should be taken to the Supreme Court.
- When the Court of Criminal Appeal is abolished, the Supreme Court will take over its functions. This means that appeals against convictions and sentences from trials on indictment (i.e., trials with a judge and jury) from the Circuit Criminal Court and the Central Criminal Court will go directly to the Supreme Court.
- Appeals from the Special Criminal Court will also go to the Supreme Court.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions may appeal a point of law from a trial on indictment to the Supreme Court. This does not mean that the Supreme Court may overturn the verdict of "not guilty". It simply clarifies the law for future cases.
Further information on the Supreme Court is available on its website www.supremecourt.ie.
Page updated: 2 April 2009
Language
Related Documents
- Supreme Court of Ireland
The Irish Constitution makes provision for a Court of Final Appeal - the Supreme Court. Find out about this court, which decides both civil and criminal matters. - Criminal Trial
An introduction to the various types of criminal trial that take place in Ireland. - District Court - Criminal Jurisdiction
The criminal jurisdiction of the District Court in Ireland is described.
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