Legal System of Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands is located in Central America N Caribbean. It is geographically situated in two island groups in the north atlantic ocean, southeast of the bahamas, north of haiti; note - although the turks and caicos islands do not border the caribbean sea, geopolitically they are often designated as being caribbean. The country achieved independence on none (overseas territory of the uk). The capital is Grand Turk (Cockburn Town).

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary democracy Chief of State: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Dileeni Daniel-SELVARATNAM (since 29 June 2023) Head of Government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Turks and Caicos Islands is described as mixed system of English common law and civil law

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges, as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices) Judge Selection: Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges appointed by the governor in accordance with the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body of high-level judicial officials; Supreme Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment Subordinate Courts: magistrates’ courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral

Citizenship and Suffrage

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

The islands were part of the UK’s Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate Crown colony upon Jamaica’s independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed, and the islands remain a British overseas territory. Grand Turk Island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Turks and Caicos Islands based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.