The Supreme Court The Supreme Court of The Bahamas is established by Article 93 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas which states:

93 (1) There shall be a Supreme Court for The Bahamas which shall have such jurisdiction and powers as may be conferred upon it by this Constitution or any other law
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(4) The Supreme Court shall be a superior court of record and, save as otherwise provided by Parliament, shall have all the powers of such a court.?

JURISDICTION

Subject to the provisions of the Supreme Court Act or any other law, the Supreme Court has unlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal causes and matters; and such appellate jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by the Supreme Court Act or any other law.

(I) CIVIL
The civil jurisdiction of the Supreme Court includes causes and matters in the Admiralty, Probate, Matrimonial, Common Law and Equity and Commercial Divisions of the Court.

(II) CRIMINAL
The criminal jurisdiction includes applications for bail and trials with a jury of indictable offences and those hybrid offences which the accused elects to be tried in the Supreme Court.

(III) APPELLATE
In criminal cases, appeals from a conviction by a S & C Magistrate lie to the Supreme Court, except where the term of imprisonment is not less than one (1) year or the offence falls within the category of offences set out in the Third Schedule of the Criminal Procedure Code Act, Chapter 91, Statute Laws of The Bahamas.

In civil cases, appeals from decisions of the Chief Magistrate or a S & C Magistrate lie to the Supreme Court.

(IV) CONSTITUTIONAL
Article 28 of the Constitution provides that the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction

(a) to hear and determine any application made by any person in pursuance of paragraph (1) (i.e. if any person alleges that any of his fundamental rights and freedoms has been, is being or is likely to be contravened in relation to him), then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person may apply to the Supreme Court for address

(b) to determine any question arising in the case of any person which is referred to it in pursuance of paragraph 3 which states:

?If, in any proceedings in any court established for The Bahamas other than the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal, any question arises as to the contravention of any of the provisions of Articles 16 to 27 (inclusive) the court in which the question has arisen shall refer the question to the Supreme Court?

In the exercise of the civil jurisdiction, matters are heard by a single judge.

In criminal matters before the Supreme Court, proceedings are instituted in the name of the Queen and are heard by a Judge and Jury.