List of supreme courts by country

A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Supreme courts include:

List of supreme courts

States recognised by the United Nations

State Court(s) Mode of selection Term (Years) Retirement age Number of members
Afghanistan Supreme Court of Afghanistan[a] Appointed by the supreme leader - - -
Albania Constitutional Court of Albania 3 members appointed by the President 3 members elected by 3/5 of the Assembly 3 members elected by the High Court 9 70 9
Supreme Court of Albania Appointed by the President with the consent of Parliament 9 70 17
Algeria Constitutional Court of Algeria 4 members appointed by the President 2 elected by the Supreme Court 2 elected by the Council of State 6 - 12
Supreme Court of Algeria appointed by the executive - - -
Andorra Superior Court of Justice - - - 5[1][2]
Angola Supreme Court of Angola appointed by the president
Constitutional Court of Angola Four are appointed by the President, four by the National Assembly, two by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, and one elected by the public 11
Antigua and Barbuda Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Argentina Supreme Court of Argentina Presidential nomination with Senate of Argentina confirmation (Judges)

Ministers of the Supreme Court (President)

- 75 5
Armenia Constitutional Court of Armenia Elected/appointed by the National Assembly with an equal number of nominations by the president, the government and a general meeting of judges 12 years, non-renewable 70 9
Court of Cassation
Australia High Court of Australia Appointed by Governor-General following nomination by Prime Minister, and advice from Attorney-General and Cabinet 70 7
Austria Constitutional Court of Austria Justices are sworn in by the President on nomination of either the Government, the National Council, or the Federal Council Mandatory retirement at 70 years of age 14 members (including the President and the Vice President)

6 substitute members

Supreme Court of Justice Presidential appointment on nomination of the minister of justice 60
Administrative Court of Austria
Azerbaijan Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan
Supreme Court of Azerbaijan
Bahamas Supreme Court of the Bahamas 11
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Bahrain Constitutional Court
Court of Cassation
Supreme Court of Appeal
High Sharia Court of Appeal
Bangladesh Supreme Court of Bangladesh The Chief Justice of Bangladesh and other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of Bangladesh with prior mandatory consultation with the Prime Minister. 67 6 in Appellate Division 95 in High Court Division
Barbados Supreme Court of Judicature
Caribbean Court of Justice
Belarus Constitutional Court of Belarus[3] 12
Supreme Court of Belarus[a]
Belgium Constitutional Court 12
Court of Cassation 30
Belize Supreme Court of Belize
Caribbean Court of Justice
Benin Constitutional Court of Benin 7
Supreme Court of Benin
High Court of Justice
Bhutan Supreme Court of Bhutan The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (also called the "Chief Justice of Bhutan"), as well as its Drangpons are appointed by the Druk Gyalpo from among their juniors and peers, or from among other eminent jurists. 10 65 5
Bolivia Plurinational Constitutional Court
Supreme Court of Justice 9
Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina 9
Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana Court of Appeal
Brazil Supreme Federal Court Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation - 75 11
Superior Court of Justice 33
Brunei Supreme Court of Brunei
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Bulgaria Supreme Court of Cassation of Bulgaria
Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria
Burkina Faso Supreme Court of Burkina Faso
Burundi Supreme Court of Burundi
Cambodia Constitutional Council of Cambodia 9
Supreme Court of Cambodia 9
Cameroon Supreme Court of Cameroon[a]
Canada Supreme Court of Canada Judicial appointments in Canada 75 9
Cape Verde Supreme Court of Justice 5 (minimum)
Central African Republic Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic
Supreme Court of the Central African Republic
Chad Constitutional Council of Chad 9
Supreme Court of Chad 16
Chile Constitutional Court of Chile 10
Supreme Court of Chile 21
China Supreme People's Court[a] Elected (de facto appointed) by the National People's Congress or Standing Committee of the National People's Congress 400 (approximate)
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (de facto, Hong Kong and Macau) 175
Court of Final Appeal (de jure, Macau) Appointed by the Chief Executive on nomination of the Independent Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.
Court of Final Appeal (de jure, Hong Kong) Appointed by the Chief Executive on nomination of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission and with the approval of the Legislative Council 70
Colombia Constitutional Court of Colombia 9
Supreme Court of Justice 23
Council of State 27
Comoros Supreme Court of the Comoros
Congo-Brazzaville Supreme Court of Republic of the Congo
Congo-Kinshasa Constitutional Court 9
Court of Cassation 26
Council of State
Costa Rica Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica
Croatia Supreme Court of Croatia Elected by the State Judicial Council Five years in the first term, life tenure after renewal 70 42
Cuba People's Supreme Court of Cuba[a]
Cyprus Supreme Court of Cyprus 13
Czech Republic Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic 15
Supreme Court of the Czech Republic
Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic
Denmark Supreme Court of Denmark Appointed by the other judges 70
Djibouti Supreme Court of Djibouti
Dominica Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Caribbean Court of Justice (see below)
Dominican Republic Supreme Court of the Dominican Republic Elected by the National Council of Magistracy 9 - 16
Ecuador Constitutional Court of Ecuador
National Court of Justice of Ecuador[a]
Egypt Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt
Court of Cassation
El Salvador Supreme Court of El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea Constitutional Court of Equatorial Guinea
Supreme Court of Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea High Court of Eritrea
Estonia Supreme Court of Estonia
Eswatini High Court of Eswatini
Ethiopia Federal Supreme Court
Fiji Supreme Court of Fiji
Finland Supreme Court of Finland 15 - 1 President a minimum of 14 others. (Currently 17)
Supreme Administrative Court of Finland
France Constitutional Council 3 members selected by the President of the Republic;

3 members selected by the President of the Senate; 3 members selected by the President of the National Assembly

9 years (non-renewable) 9 + 2 former presidents of the Republic (de facto)
Court of Cassation
Council of State
Gabon Supreme Court of Gabon
Gambia Supreme Court of the Gambia
Georgia Constitutional Court of Georgia 3 Judges Appointed by the President of Georgia;

3 Judges Elected by the Parliament of Georgia; 3 Judges designated by the Supreme Court of Georgia

10 9
Supreme Court of Georgia
Germany Federal Constitutional Court Election by Bundestag and Bundesrat 12 68 16
Federal Court of Justice
Federal Administrative Court
Federal Fiscal Court
Federal Labour Court
Federal Social Court
Ghana Supreme Court of Ghana
Greece Supreme Special Court
Supreme Civil and Criminal Court of Greece
Council of State
Court of Audit
Grenada Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Guatemala Constitutional Court
Supreme Court of Justice
Guinea Supreme Court of Guinea
Guinea-Bissau Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau
Guyana Supreme Court of Judicature
Caribbean Court of Justice[4]
Haiti Supreme Court of Haiti
Honduras Supreme Court of Honduras
Hungary Constitutional Court of Hungary
Curia of Hungary
Iceland Supreme Court of Iceland Presidential appointment after Minister of Justice nomination following Qualifications Committee selection. Parliamentary confirmation before appointment if minister nomination differs from committee selection. no term limit Life tenure 7 (by statute)
India Supreme Court of India Appointed by the President, on recommendations[b] of the Supreme Court Collegium consisting of the 5 senior-most judges of the Supreme Court including the Chief Justice.[5] no term limit 65 34 including the Chief Justice of India
Indonesia Constitutional Court of Indonesia
Supreme Court of Indonesia
Iran Supreme Court of Iran The chief of the Supreme Court is nominated by the head of the judiciary 5 42
Iraq Court of Cassation of Iraq[6]
Federal Supreme Court of Iraq 		Appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq and approved by the Council of Representatives as per Article 61 of the Constitution.
Appointed by a council composed of the heads of the Supreme Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Judicial Supervisory Commission and Public Prosecutor’s Office.[7]
72 		Legal minimum of 15. Current composition is 26 judges + Chief Justice
8 judges + Chief Justice
Ireland Supreme Court of Ireland Appointed by the President, acting on the binding advice of the Government Once appointed, a judge may only be removed by the Oireachtas for stated misbehaviour or incapacity Mandatory retirement at age 70 10 and 2 ex officio members
Israel Supreme Court of Israel Presidential appointment upon nomination by the Judicial Selection Committee 70 15
Italy Constitutional Court of Italy Elected/appointed in equal portions by Italian Parliament, President of the Italian Republic, and highest Italian courts 9 years (not renewable) 15
Supreme Court of Cassation
Ivory Coast Constitutional Council
Supreme Court of the Ivory Coast
Jamaica Court of Appeal
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Japan Supreme Court of Japan Selected by the Cabinet of Japan Mandatory retirement at age 70 15
Jordan Court of Cassation
Kazakhstan Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan
Supreme Court of Kazakhstan
Kenya Supreme Court of Kenya
Kiribati Court of Appeal of Kiribati
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Kuwait High Court of Appeal of Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan[a]
Laos People's Supreme Court of Laos
Latvia Constitutional Court of Latvia Elected/appointed in 3 portions by Saeima, 2 by Government of Latvia, and 2 by Supreme Court of Latvia 10 - 7
Supreme Court of Latvia
Lebanon Constitutional Council
Court of Cassation
Lesotho Lesotho Court of Appeal
Liberia Supreme Court of Liberia Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation no term limit 70 5
Libya Supreme Court of Libya
Liechtenstein Supreme Court of Liechtenstein
Lithuania Constitutional Court of Lithuania Renewed by a third every three years, each judge nominated by the President, Speaker of Seimas and the Head of the Supreme Court and appointed by Seimas 9 years (only one term allowed) 9
Supreme Court of Lithuania
Luxembourg Constitutional Court
Superior Court of Justice
Administrative Court
Madagascar Supreme Court of Madagascar
Malawi Constitutional Court of Malawi
Supreme Court of Appeal
Malaysia Federal Court of Malaysia[a] Royal appointment with the advice of the Prime Minister Compulsory retirement at age 66 and 6 months 15
Maldives Supreme Court of the Maldives Presidential Nomination and then People's Majlis Confirmation Life tenure 7
Mali Supreme Court of Mali
Malta Constitutional Court of Malta
Court of Civil Appeals of Malta
Court of Criminal Appeals of Malta
Marshall Islands Supreme Court of the Marshall Islands
Mauritania Supreme Court of Mauritania
Mauritius Supreme Court of Mauritius By the President, after consultation with the Prime Minister 67 17
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Mexico Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation 15 11
Micronesia Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia
Moldova Constitutional Court of Moldova
Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova
Monaco Supreme Court of Monaco
Mongolia Constitutional Court of Mongolia Parliamentary, presidential and judicial selection with parliamentary confirmation 9
Supreme Court of Mongolia Appointment by President of Mongolia after presentation by the General Council of the Courts 25
Montenegro Constitutional Court of Montenegro, Supreme Court of Montenegro
Morocco Supreme Court of Morocco
Mozambique Supreme Court of Mozambique
Myanmar Constitutional Tribunal of Myanmar
Supreme Court of Myanmar
Namibia Supreme Court of Namibia
Nauru Supreme Court of Nauru
  Nepal Supreme Court of Nepal Presidential nomination with Parliament confirmation 65 21
Netherlands Supreme Court of the Netherlands Selected by the House of Representatives on advice of the Supreme Court and appointed by royal decree 70 36
Council of State
New Zealand Supreme Court of New Zealand Appointed by the Governor-General on behalf of King Charles III on the advice of the Prime Minister (Chief Justice) and Attorney-General (Justices) 70 6
Nicaragua Supreme Court of Nicaragua
Niger Constitutional Court of Niger
Supreme Court of Niger
Nigeria Supreme Court of Nigeria Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation no term limit 70 21
North Korea Supreme Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea[a][8] President and justices elected by the Supreme People's Assembly and its Standing Committee, respectively[9] 5[10] unknown[11]
North Macedonia Constitutional Court of North Macedonia
Supreme Court of North Macedonia
Norway Supreme Court of Norway 20
Oman Supreme Court of Oman[a]
Pakistan Supreme Court of Pakistan
Federal Shariat Court
Palau Supreme Court of Palau
Palestine Supreme Constitutional Court
Supreme Court of Palestine
Panama Supreme Court of Justice
Papua New Guinea Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea 10 year term, renewable
Paraguay Supreme Court of Justice
Peru Constitutional Court of Peru
Supreme Court of Peru
Philippines Supreme Court of the Philippines Presidential appointment from the shortlist of candidates submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council 70 15
Poland Constitutional Tribunal[3]
Supreme Court of Poland
Supreme Administrative Court[12]
Portugal Constitutional Court of Portugal
Supreme Court of Justice
Qatar Court of Cassation of Qatar[a]
Romania Constitutional Court of Romania 9 9
High Court of Cassation and Justice
Russia Constitutional Court of Russia Appointment by Federation Council with nomination by President of Russia - 70 (76 for the Deputy President and none for the President) 11 (including the President and the Deputy President)
Supreme Court of Russia Appointment by Federation Council with nomination by President of Russia based on the proposal by Prime Minister of Russia - 70 (76 for the Deputy Chief Justices and none for the Chief Justice) 170
Rwanda Supreme Court of Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Saint Lucia Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Caribbean Court of Justice (see below)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Samoa Court of Appeal of Samoa
Supreme Court of Samoa
San Marino Council of Twelve
São Tomé and Príncipe Supreme Court of Justice
Saudi Arabia Supreme Judicial Council
Senegal Constitutional Council
Court of Cassation
Serbia Constitutional Court of Serbia Parliament selection (5 members)

Presidential selection (5 members)
Supreme Court selection (5 memb.)

9 65 15
Supreme Court of Serbia Elected by the High Magistrate Council life tenure 65 50
Seychelles Supreme Court of Seychelles
Sierra Leone Supreme Court of Sierra Leone
Singapore Supreme Court of Singapore[a] Executive selection 65
Slovakia Constitutional Court of Slovakia
Supreme Court of Slovakia
Supreme Administrative Court of Slovakia
Slovenia Constitutional Court of Slovenia
Supreme Court of Slovenia
Solomon Islands Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands
Somalia Constitutional Court
Federal High Court
South Africa Constitutional Court of South Africa
Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
South Korea Constitutional Court of Korea Appointed by President upon nomination of equal portions from National Assembly, Supreme Court Chief Justice and the President 6 years, renewable 70 9
Supreme Court of Korea Appointed by President with consent of National Assembly

(for associate Justices, nomination of Chief Justice is additionally required)

6 years, renewable 70 14
South Sudan Supreme Court of South Sudan
Spain Constitutional Court of Spain Appointed by the King after being nominated by the Parliament, the General Council of the Judiciary and the Government. 9 12
Supreme Court of Spain Appointed by Monarch on selection by the General Council of the Judiciary 70 79
Sri Lanka Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Sudan Supreme Court of Sudan[a]
Suriname High Court of Justice of Suriname
Sweden Supreme Court of Sweden Government-appointed with parliamentary notification Life tenure 67 16
Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden
 Switzerland Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
Syria Supreme Constitutional Court of Syria
Court of Cassation
Tajikistan Supreme Court of Tajikistan[a]
Tanzania Court of Appeal of Tanzania
Thailand Supreme Court of Thailand
Timor-Leste Supreme Court of Justice
Togo Supreme Court of Togo
Tonga Court of Appeal of Tonga
Privy Council of Tonga (hereditary estates and titles)
Trinidad and Tobago Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago[13]
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Tunisia Constitutional Court
Court of Cassation[a]
Turkey Constitutional Court of Turkey Legislative/Executive appointment 12 65 15
Court of Cassation Council of Judges and Prosecutors 12 65 380
Council of State Council of Judges and Prosecutors 12 65 115
Court of Jurisdictional Disputes Appointed by other supreme courts 4 65 13
Turkmenistan Supreme Court of Turkmenistan
Tuvalu High Court of Tuvalu
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Uganda Constitutional Court of Uganda
Supreme Court of Uganda
Ukraine Constitutional Court of Ukraine Presidential, Parliamentary and Congress of Judges nomination 9 65 18
Supreme Court of Ukraine Presidential-parliamentary appointment 5-year term, renewable 48
United Arab Emirates Federal Supreme Court Presidential appointment 20
United Kingdom Supreme Court of the United Kingdom Appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister, following approval of a recommendation by the Lord Chancellor 75 12
* Scotland
High Court of Justiciary (Scotland–Criminal Appeals concerning violations of the Human Rights Act 1998 may be heard in the Supreme Court alongside civil cases) 		Appointment by the Monarch on recommendation of the First Minister of Scotland who receive a recommendation from the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland 75 36
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
United States Supreme Court of the United States Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation Life tenure 9
Uruguay Supreme Court of Uruguay Appointed by the General Assembly by two thirds of the votes. 10 5
Uzbekistan Supreme Court of Uzbekistan Constitutional Court of Uzbekistan
Vanuatu Supreme Court of Vanuatu
Vatican City/Holy See Supreme Court of Vatican City 3
Venezuela Supreme Tribunal of Justice
Vietnam Supreme People's Court of Vietnam[a]
Yemen Supreme Court of Yemen[a]
Zambia Constitutional Court of Zambia
Supreme Court of Zambia
Zimbabwe Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe
Supreme Court of Zimbabwe

States recognised by at least one United Nations member

State Court(s)
Abkhazia Supreme Court of Abkhazia
Cook Islands Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Kosovo Supreme Court of Kosovo
Niue Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below)
Northern Cyprus Supreme Court of Northern Cyprus
Taiwan Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of the Republic of China
South Ossetia Supreme Court of South Ossetia
Western Sahara Constitutional Council, Supreme Court of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

States not recognised by any United Nations members

State Court(s)
Somaliland Supreme Court of Somaliland
Transnistria Supreme Court of Transnistria

Sui generis entities

State Court(s)
European Union European Court of Justice
Sovereign Military Order of Malta Magistral Court of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

International courts

There are a number of international courts that are the highest courts of appeal for members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and some of the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations respectively. However, the members of those organisations do sometimes have high courts of their own and their jurisdiction may be limited.

Organisation Court(s)
Benelux Union Benelux Court of Justice
Caribbean Community Caribbean Court of Justice
Commonwealth of Nations Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Council of Europe European Court of Human Rights
European Free Trade Association EFTA Court
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q This court is not independent of either the legislature and/or executive of that country.
  2. ^ Such recommendations are binding upon the President as per the Three Judges Cases

References

  1. ^ "Andorra: Government". Retrieved Apr 14, 2025.
  2. ^ "Andorra (4/05)". Retrieved Apr 14, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "International Alliance of Constitutional Courts" (in English and Italian). Retrieved Jun 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Guyana". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
  5. ^ "Memorandum of procedure of appointment of Supreme Court Judges | Department of Justice | India". Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  6. ^ "Judicial Authority Law No. 26 of 1963" (in Arabic). 31 August 2010.
  7. ^ Federal Supreme Court Law Amendment (Law No. 25 of 2021)
  8. ^ "Korea, North". The World Factbook. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  9. ^ Do, Kyung-ok; Kim, Soon-am; Han, Dong-ho; Lee, Keum-soon; Hong, Min (2015). White Paper on Human Rights in North Korea 2015 (PDF). Seoul: Korea Institute for National Unification. ISBN 978-89-8479-802-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2018. p. 135
  10. ^ Yonhap (2002). North Korea Handbook. Seoul: M.E. Sharpe. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-7656-3523-5.
  11. ^ Arrigoni, Guy R. (1994). "National Security". In Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). North Korea: A Country Study (Fourth ed.). Washington: Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. pp. 212–274. ISBN 0-8444-0794-1. p. 269.
  12. ^ "Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej". www.sejm.gov.pl.
  13. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
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