Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
Encyclopedia
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in the Hong Kong judiciary
Judiciary of Hong Kong
The Judiciary of Hong Kong is responsible for the administration of justice in Hong Kong. It hears all prosecutions and civil disputes, including disputes between individuals and the government. It is fundamental to Hong Kong’s legal system that members of the judiciary are independent of the...
. The position is second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
in the Hong Kong order of precedence
Hong Kong order of precedence
The Hong Kong order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Hong Kong. Administered by the government's Protocol Division, the hierarchy does not determine the order of succession for the office of Chief Executive, which is instead specified...
. The current Chief Justice is Geoffrey Ma
Geoffrey Ma
Geoffrey Ma Tao-li is currently the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, who ranks second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong order of precedence....
who was formally sworn in as Chief Justice on 3 September 2010 at Government House.
The role replaces the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong
Chief Justice of Hong Kong or erroneously Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong was the most senior judge in the court system in Hong Kong until 1997....
and the role of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
.
Court of Final Appeal structure
The Court of Final Appeal (CFA) is headed by the Chief Justice and comprises three permanent judges and a panel of non-permanent judges. In hearing and determining an appealAppeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
, the Court will consist of five judges, and the Court may, as required, invite a non-permanent judge from Hong Kong or another common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
jurisdiction such as England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
to sit on the Court.
As of December 2008, there are 16 non-permanent judges, six from Hong Kong and ten from other common law jurisdictions.
The Chief Justice is the President of the CFA. Where he is not available to hear an appeal for any cause, he is required to designate a Permanent Judge to sit in his place as President.
List
| Name | Tenure Begin | Tenure End | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Li Andrew Li Andrew Li Kwok-nang, CBE, GBM, JP is the former Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, a post he held from the 1997 Hong Kong handover until 31 August 2010 inclusive. He is succeeded by Geoffrey Ma.-Early life and education:... |
1 July 1997 | 31 August 2010 | |
| Geoffrey Ma Geoffrey Ma Geoffrey Ma Tao-li is currently the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, who ranks second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong order of precedence.... |
1 September 2010 | ||
See also
- Court of Final Appeal
- Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong KongChief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong KongChief Justice of Hong Kong or erroneously Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong was the most senior judge in the court system in Hong Kong until 1997....
- Legal system of Hong KongLegal system of Hong KongThe law of Hong Kong is based on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The constitutional framework for the legal system is provided by the Hong Kong Basic Law. Under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, the legal framework of Hong Kong is based on the English common law,...
- Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of ChinaSupreme People's Court of the People's Republic of ChinaThe Supreme People's Court is the highest court in the mainland area of the People's Republic of China...
- Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (Macau)