Page 10 - 2021 Annual Statistical Report (B.E 2564)

THAI JUDICIAL SYSTEM

The Court of Justice of Thailand is classified into three levels consisting

of courts of first instance, appellate courts and the Supreme Court (a.k.a.
“Sarn Dika” in Thai).
Courts of first instance are categorized as general courts, juvenile and
family courts and specialized courts. The general courts are ordinary courts
which have authorities to try and adjudicate criminal and civil cases. These
general courts are : Civil Courts, Criminal Courts, Provincial Courts and Kwaeng
Courts. Offices of regional Chief Justice together with their regional
Administrative Offices of the Court of Justice headed by the Chief Justice of
that region are responsible for the courts in the region. As a result, court

management and administrative support services with respect to Provincial
Courts, Kwaeng Courts and Juvenile and Family Courts in Region I – IX are
provided by the regional Administrative Office of each region.
The Court of Appeal handles an appeal against a judgment or order of
Civil Courts and Criminal Courts. Meanwhile, Regional Courts of Appeal handle
an appeal against a judgment or order of the other Courts of First Instance
located within their regions. The Establishment of the Court of Appeal for
Specialized Cases Act B.E. 2558 (2015) was enacted to facilitate judges with
various expertise in adjudicating specialized cases with expediency and
uniformity and conform to the new appeal and Dika appeal system for
ordinary civil cases already amended by laws. The Act empowers the Court of

Appeal for Specialized Cases to try and adjudicate cases appealed from
specialized courts as follows:
- The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court;
- The Central Tax Court;
- Labor Courts;
- The Central Bankruptcy Court;
- Juvenile and Family Courts.
According to the promulgation of the Civil Procedure Code Amendment
Act (No. 27) B.E. 2558 (2015) which has come into force since November 8,

2558 (2015), the Supreme Court shall have the power to consider whether
cases submitted for the Dika appeal to the Supreme Court deserves the
permission to appeal for the adjudication of the Supreme Court.

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