CCJ

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the regional judicial institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Established to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final court of appeal for participating member states and to provide an original jurisdiction for disputes between states, the CCJ is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The CCJ has two main functions. Its original jurisdiction allows it to adjudicate disputes between CARICOM member states and to interpret the Caribbean Community treaty and related agreements. Its appellate jurisdiction enables it to serve as the final court of appeal for those member states that have elected to accept the CCJ's jurisdiction for appeals. States may opt into or out of the CCJ’s appellate jurisdiction, meaning some retain the Privy Council as their ultimate appeal court.

The court is composed of a president (the Chief Justice) and several other judges, all appointed by consensus among member states. It operates with a registry and follows procedures for written and oral submissions, hearings, and binding judgments. The CCJ’s judgments are generally published and implemented by member states in accordance with their constitutional processes.

Impact and significance of the CCJ lie in its potential to foster uniform interpretation of CARICOM and treaty provisions, promote regional legal autonomy, and support integration by providing a regional forum for constitutional, civil, and criminal matters. By offering a regional final court of appeal, the CCJ aims to reduce reliance on external courts and to develop Caribbean jurisprudence that reflects regional realities.