Your appeal / the wider Commonwealth
Appeals in the wider Commonwealth
For some countries the final court is the Privy Council or the Caribbean Court of Justice. For most it is at home.
Start with your own country
Most Commonwealth countries have no route to London. Your first step is the appeal court in your own country, and its deadline may be very short. Our jurisdiction pages list what we have been able to confirm. Many Commonwealth deadlines are not listed, because we would rather leave one out than guess. Ask the court registry or a lawyer.
The Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council hears final appeals from a limited list that includes The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Mauritius. An application for permission is due within 56 days of the decision below.
In criminal cases, permission is granted where the panel thinks there is a risk that a serious miscarriage of justice may have occurred. The longer the delay, the more weighty the explanation has to be. Tell the prosecuting authority as soon as you intend to apply.
The Privy Council itself provides no funding or legal aid. Funding must be sought in the country the appeal comes from.
The Caribbean Court of Justice
The CCJ describes itself as the final court of appeal for Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana and Saint Lucia. The Privy Council's directions still list Dominica too, so check which court applies if you are in Dominica.
General information only, not legal advice. Do not rely on this page for a deadline in your case.