State courts of Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, there are three types of state courts: the State Supreme Court, State High Court, and State First-Instance Court. The FDRE Constitution guarantees the delegation of the state courts to the federal courts (the Federal First Instance, High and Supreme Courts).
The seats of the State Supreme Court are found in capital cities of the regions of Ethiopia, while the High Court found in zonal branches and the First Instance Court in woreda branches.
Provision
Ethiopia has three level of state courts: the State Supreme Court, State High Court, and State First Instance Court. The highest authority, the State Supreme Court, incorporates cession bench to ensure fundamental errors of law in the state.[1] The seats of the State Supreme Court are located in their respective capital cities; the High Court seats are found in zonal branches while the First Instance Court seats found in woreda level.[2][3][4]
The Constitution guarantees the judicial delegation of State Supreme Courts and State High Courts to the Federal Supreme Court and Federal High Court. In this case, appellate rights of the State First Instance Court and State High Court cases and decisions are rendered to State Supreme Court, as the State Supreme Court cases appealed to the Federal Supreme Court in federal matter.[5]
List of regions with state courts
| Regions | Seats location | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa | Addis Ababa | Federal chartered city | |
| Afar | Asaita | ||
| Amhara | Bahir Dar | ||
| Benishangul-Gumuz | Asosa | ||
| Central Ethiopia Regional State | Butajira | ||
| Dire Dawa | Dire Dawa | Federal chartered city | |
| Gambela | Gambela | ||
| Harari | Harar | ||
| Oromia | Addis Ababa | [6] | |
| Sidama | Hawassa | ||
| Somali | Jijiga | ||
| South Ethiopia | Sodo | ||
| South West Ethiopia | Bonga | ||
| Tigray | Mekelle |
See also
References
- ^ Fiseha, Assefa. "Part III The Relationship Between the Judiciary and the Political Branches, 11 Relations Between the Legislature and the Judiciary in Ethiopia". Oxford Constitutions. doi:10.1093/law/9780198759799.001.0001/law-9780198759799-chapter-12. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "A Brief Note on Courts in Ethiopia and their Structure". 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Somali Regional State Government)" (PDF).
- ^ "Democracy Assistance to Post-Conflict Ethiopia".
- ^ "Judicial Power Decentralization in Ethiopia". Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ "Supreme Court of Oromia Building Project – Engineering Corporation of Oromia". Retrieved 2025-02-14.