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European Criminal Court Hierarchies
Here's a list with criminal court hierarchies, generally from lowest to highest instance
This list focuses on ordinary criminal courts and generally excludes specialized courts (e.g., administrative courts, constitutional courts, military courts, family courts, etc.) unless they have significant criminal jurisdiction.
The exact names and jurisdictions can vary, and some countries might have slight variations in the hierarchy depending on the severity of the crime.
The highest court often acts as a court of cassation or supreme court for both civil and criminal matters, focusing on points of law rather than facts.
The list:
Western Europe
Austria:
District Courts (Bezirksgerichte) - for minor offenses
Regional Courts (Landesgerichte) - for more serious offenses, and appeals from District Courts
Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte) - appeals
Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) - highest court of appeal
Belgium:
Police Tribunals (Tribunal de police / Politierechtbank) - minor offenses
Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de première instance / Rechtbank van eerste aanleg) - more serious offenses, and appeals from Police Tribunals
Courts of Appeal (Cour d'appel / Hof van beroep) - appeals
Court of Cassation (Cour de cassation / Hof van Cassatie) - highest court of appeal
Courts of Assize (Cour d'assises / Hof van assisen) - for the most serious crimes (with a jury), no appeal on facts, but cassation is possible.
France:
Police Courts (Tribunal de Police) - minor offenses (contraventions)
Correctional Courts (Tribunal Correctionnel) - misdemeanors (délits)
Courts of Assize (Cour d'assises) - felonies (crimes) with a jury
Courts of Appeal (Cour d'appel) - appeals from Correctional Courts and Police Courts
Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation) - highest court of appeal, on points of law
Germany:
Local Courts (Amtsgerichte) - minor criminal cases
District Courts (Landgerichte) - more serious cases, and appeals from Local Courts
Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte) - appeals from District Courts, and some initial jurisdiction for very serious crimes (e.g., state security)
Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) - highest court of appeal
Ireland:
District Court - minor offenses
Circuit Court - more serious offenses, and appeals from District Court
Central Criminal Court (High Court when exercising criminal jurisdiction) - most serious offenses (e.g., murder, treason)
Special Criminal Court - for specific offenses (e.g., terrorism) where ordinary courts are deemed inadequate, no jury.
Court of Appeal - appeals from Circuit Court and Central Criminal Court
Supreme Court - final court of appeal, often on points of law or constitutional matters
Luxembourg:
Justice of the Peace (Justice de Paix) - minor offenses (police court)
District Courts (Tribunal d'arrondissement) - intermediate and serious offenses
Court of Appeal (Cour d'appel) - appeals
Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation) - highest court of appeal
Netherlands:
District Courts (Rechtbanken) - first instance for most criminal cases
Courts of Appeal (Gerechtshoven) - appeals from District Courts
Supreme Court (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden) - highest court of appeal, on points of law
Portugal:
Local Courts (Tribunal Local) - minor offenses
Judicial Courts of First Instance (Tribunais Judiciais de Primeira Instância) - broader jurisdiction
Courts of Appeal (Tribunais da Relação) - appeals
Supreme Court of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justiça) - highest court of appeal
Spain:
Courts of Instruction (Juzgados de Instrucción) - investigation phase, also minor offenses
Criminal Courts (Juzgados de lo Penal) - less serious crimes
Provincial Courts (Audiencias Provinciales) - more serious crimes, and appeals from lower courts
High Courts of Justice of Autonomous Communities (Tribunales Superiores de Justicia de las Comunidades Autónomas) - appeals, and some specialized criminal jurisdiction
National High Court (Audiencia Nacional) - specific complex crimes (terrorism, international crimes)
Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) - highest court of appeal
United Kingdom (England and Wales):
Magistrates' Courts - minor offenses
Crown Court - serious offenses, and appeals from Magistrates' Courts
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) - appeals from Crown Court
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom - final court of appeal, usually on points of general public importance
Northern Europe / Scandinavia
Denmark:
District Courts (Byretterne) - most criminal cases
High Courts (Landsretterne) - appeals from District Courts
Supreme Court (Højesteret) - highest court of appeal
Finland:
District Courts (Käräjäoikeudet / Tingsrätterna) - first instance
Courts of Appeal (Hovioikeudet / Hovrätter) - appeals
Supreme Court (Korkein oikeus / Högsta domstolen) - highest court of appeal
Norway:
District Courts (Tingrettene) - first instance
Courts of Appeal (Lagmannsrettene) - appeals
Supreme Court (Høyesterett) - highest court of appeal
Sweden:
District Courts (Tingsrätten) - first instance
Courts of Appeal (Hovrätten) - appeals
Supreme Court (Högsta domstolen) - highest court of appeal
Central & Eastern Europe
Czech Republic:
District Courts (Okresní soudy) - minor offenses
Regional Courts (Krajské soudy) - more serious offenses, and appeals from District Courts
High Courts (Vrchní soudy) - appeals from Regional Courts
Supreme Court (Nejvyšší soud) - highest court of appeal
Hungary:
District Courts (Járásbíróságok) - first instance for most crimes
Regional Courts (Törvényszékek) - first instance for serious crimes, and appeals from District Courts
Courts of Appeal (Ítélőtáblák) - appeals from Regional Courts
Curia (Kúria) - highest court of appeal
Poland:
District Courts (Sądy Rejonowe) - first instance for most crimes
Regional Courts (Sądy Okręgowe) - first instance for serious crimes, and appeals from District Courts
Courts of Appeal (Sądy Apelacyjne) - appeals from Regional Courts
Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy) - highest court of appeal (cassation)
Romania:
Local Courts (Judecătorii) - minor offenses
Tribunals (Tribunale) - more serious offenses, and appeals from Local Courts
Courts of Appeal (Curți de Apel) - appeals from Tribunals
High Court of Cassation and Justice (Înalta Curte de Casație și Justiție) - highest court of appeal
Slovakia:
District Courts (Okresné súdy) - minor offenses
Regional Courts (Krajské súdy) - more serious offenses, and appeals from District Courts
Supreme Court (Najvyšší súd) - highest court of appeal
Croatia:
Municipal Courts (Općinski sudovi) - minor offenses
County Courts (Županijski sudovi) - more serious offenses, and appeals from Municipal Courts
High Criminal Court (Visoki kazneni sud) - new court established in 2021, for appeals in criminal cases from County Courts
Supreme Court (Vrhovni sud Republike Hrvatske) - highest court of appeal
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