[8] When constituted by a Judge, the High Court has original jurisdiction, and may hear appeals of decisions made by Justices of the Peace.
[10] A single Justice of the Peace may also hear pleas and traffic offences,[10] as well as applications for summonses and custody of a minor.
[11] When constituted by a panel of three Justices of the Peace, the Court has jurisdiction over specified offences, and may sentence people to imprisonment for up to three years or a $1000 fine.
[11] In the civil jurisdiction, a single Justice of the Peace can hear matters where the amount in dispute is $1500 or less, and a panel of three Justices of the Peace can hear matters where the amount in dispute is between $1500 and $3000.
[12] The following are the Judges of the High Court as of January 2020:[13] As of August 2020 there are twenty Justices of the Peace: 14 on Rarotonga, two each on Aitutaki and Manihiki, and one each on Mangaia and Mauke.