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The judiciary of Solomon Islands is a branch of the Government of Solomon Islands that interprets and applies the laws of Solomon Islands, to ensure equal justice under law, and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution. The legal system is derived from chapter VII, part II of the Constitution, adopted when the country became independent from the United Kingdom in 1978. The Constitution provided for the creation of a High Court, with original jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases, and a Court of Appeal. It also provided for the possibility of "subordinate courts", with no further specification (art.84).〔(Constitution of Solomon Islands ), 1978〕 The court system is under the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs,〔("Judicial System of Solomon Islands" ), Commonwealth Governance〕 who as of June 2013 is Commins Mewa.〔(Cabinet of Solomon Islands ), CIA〕 Prior to the beginning of the international Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in 2003, designed to restore peace and order in the country and reinforce its institutions, the "justice system was barely functioning, with courts rarely sitting and those awaiting trial often waiting more than two years for their case to be heard".〔("Justice" ), RAMSI〕 The judiciary was strengthened over the following years, and as of 2013 RAMSI maintains "19 long-term advisers supporting the Solomon Islands judicial system".〔 Like that of most Pacific island countries, Solomon Islands' court system relies partly on foreign judges, from other common law countries. Thus, the judges of the Court of Appeal "include senior judges from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea".〔 Foreign judges are also found in the High Court.〔("New High Court judge sworn in" ), ''Solomon Star'', 20 July 2012〕 The court system at present is structured as follows.〔("Solomon Islands Courts System Information" ), Pacific Law Database〕 ==Local courts== Local courts have both civil and criminal jurisdiction when all parties live within the area under that jurisdiction.〔 Rulings are issued not by professional judges but by community elders, applying customary law and local by-laws.〔 Sentences passed in criminal cases may not exceed six months imprisonment, nor a fine of SI$ 200. A case may only be brought to a local court once "all traditional means of resolving the dispute have been exhausted", and the case has been submitted to local chiefs without the latter's ruling being satisfactory to all parties.〔 Appeals from a local court are heard by a magistrate's court, or by the Customary Land Appeal Court if the dispute relates to customary land.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Judiciary of the Solomon Islands」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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