Establishment
The Supreme Court of Newfoundland was first established in 1824 by An act for the better Administration of Justice in Newfoundland. It is continued today under the Judicature Act as the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Judicature Act provides that the Supreme Court is a superior court, comprised of a General Division and a Family Division.
Judiciary
The Judicature Act provides that the Court consists of a Chief Justice, an Associate Chief Justice, and up to 22 other judges (also referred to as puisne judges). The puisne judges of the Court are assigned to either the General Division or the Family Division. The Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice are judges of the General Division and the Family Division. The Act also permits the Chief Justice to designate a Senior Administrative Judge from among the judges of the Family Division, who may exercise those administrative powers assigned by the Chief Justice.
Judicial Centres
The Supreme Court sits in 6 locations (called “Judicial Centres”) in the Province: St. John’s, Grand Bank, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The General Division sits in each of these Judicial Centres. The Family Division sits in the St. John’s and Corner Brook Judicial Centres.
Jurisdiction
The General Division of the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over a wide range of cases including civil matters and criminal matters. The General Division also exercises jurisdiction over some family matters in areas of the Province where the Family Division does not operate. In the areas of the Province in which the Family Division operates, the Family Division has exclusive jurisdiction over most family law matters.
Clerks, Officers and Employees
The Judicature Act also provides for the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer and the clerks, officers and employees necessary to support the work of the judges of the Court. Currently, there are approximately 90 such employees.