• Text Size
• Print
• Email

  From:
  

  To:
  

  Hey! Check out this news page: https://www.thebackgroundinvestigator.com/Articles/European-Criminal-Court-Hierarchies/3070/index.php.

  SendCancel

International News

European Criminal Court Hierarchies

June 05, 2025 posted by Steve Brownstein

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