legal system

Hierarchy of the courts

The court structure is organised on a hierarchical basis. At the bottom is the District Court, which has the narrowest jurisdiction. At the top is the Supreme Court, which is the final court of appeal. In the middle are the Circuit Court, the High Court and the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Name four examples of Personnel of the Law

Solicitors

Barrister

Judges

The director of Public Prosecutions

. List FIVE main courts in the Irish Legal System.

High court

District court

Supreme Court

Central criminal court

Circuit court

7 sources of law

Common law

Custom law

Equity

Eu law

Legislation

Subordinate legislation

Constitution

Explain legislation

Explain subordinate legislation

The main legislative body

The oireachtas allows other parties like ministers and local authorities to make law These subordinate laws must comply with the constitution and with the parent act

Custom law

Unwritten law established by long use it is something which has just always been

Equity law

Refers to natural justice or the concept of fairness

Explain the Irish constitution

Is the basic law of the country superior to all other laws and can be changed by holding a referendum all the other laws in the country must comply with it

Difference between criminal and civil law

European Union law

Since Ireland joined the European Economic Community in 1973, some laws now come from Europe, not just Ireland.

So the Constitution had to be changed to allow these EU laws to apply in Ireland, even though they aren’t made by Irish institutions.

judicial precedent