Courts and tribunals are essential components of the judicial system, each playing a distinct role in resolving disputes and administering justice.
Courts
- Formal judicial bodies established by law.
- Have broad jurisdiction, covering civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional matters.
- Operate through a structured legal process with judges, lawyers, and strict procedural rules.
- Decisions are typically binding and may be subject to appeal.
- Examples: Supreme Court, District Court, Appellate Court.
Tribunals
- Specialized adjudicative bodies, often created to address specific types of disputes.
- Handle matters such as labor disputes, immigration, social security, professional regulation, and commercial issues.
- Tend to be less formal than courts, with simplified procedures.
- Decisions may be binding but are sometimes subject to judicial review rather than full appeal.
- Examples: Employment Tribunal, Immigration Tribunal, Tax Tribunal.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Courts | Tribunals |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Broad | Specialized |
| Formality | High | Lower |
| Procedure | Strict and formal | Simplified |
| Types of Cases | Civil, criminal, constitutional | Administrative, regulatory, etc. |
| Decision Review | Appeals | Appeals or judicial review |
- Courts: Formal judicial bodies with broad jurisdiction over various types of cases.
- Tribunals: Specialized, often less formal bodies dealing with specific types of disputes.
- Procedural Differences: Courts follow strict rules; tribunals use streamlined processes.
- Examples: Courts include Supreme and District Courts; tribunals include Employment and Immigration Tribunals.
No, courts and tribunals have different roles and structures.
Courts handle civil, criminal, and constitutional cases.
No, tribunals use less formal and more streamlined procedures.
Tribunals usually operate in areas like labor disputes, immigration, and social security.