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This Act provides with respect to constitution, administration and jurisdiction of local courts and related matters. It also provides for appeal against decisions of local courts to the District Appeal Courts or to Customary Appeals Division of High Court. There is hereby established for each Chiefdom of Sierra Leone a Local Court which shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman and such other members as the Minister may determine. A Local Court shall have jurisdiction, among other things, to hear and determine all civil cases governed by customary law (defined), including cases between Paramount Chiefs or Chiefdom Councils involving a question of title to land. A Court may order the recovery of possession of land and the restitution of property. A Court may also administer the estate of deceased persons. Subject to this Act and any Rules made under it, he practice and procedure of the Court shall be governed by customary law. The Act provides for appointment of Customary Law Officers and defines their functions and defines regulation-making powers of the Rules of Court Committee and the Chief Justice for purposes of this Act.
Amended by: Local Courts (Amendment) Act, 2014 (No. 1 of 2014). (2014-04-09)
Repeals: Local Courts Act, 1963 (No. 20 of 1963). (1963-06-21)
