Courts and Judiciary
Types of Courts in Jordan: A General Educational Guide
This article provides a general overview of Jordan’s ordinary courts and litigation levels, administrative judiciary, Sharia courts, and specialized courts or judicial routes, explaining that the proper forum depends on the dispute and current law.
Updated: 10 September 2026
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Introduction: why the court type matters
Jordan does not use one court for every dispute. Jurisdiction is distributed among ordinary courts, the administrative judiciary, Sharia courts, and courts or judicial divisions created for particular subjects by the Constitution or legislation. The Jordanian Judicial Council describes the judiciary as independent and exercised by courts of different types and levels, while jurisdiction remains controlled by applicable legal rules rather than by the label a claimant chooses for a case [1]. The practical question is therefore not simply “where can I file?” It is “what is the nature of the dispute, who are the parties, what right or decision is challenged, and which current law assigns the matter to a particular court?” This article is general legal information for public education. It is not a legal opinion, does not predict or guarantee a judicial result, and cannot replace a review of the facts, documents, standing, territorial jurisdiction, admissibility, and time limits by a licensed Jordanian lawyer. Court names, jurisdictional rules, procedures, fees, and deadlines may change through legislation, regulations, instructions, or official administrative updates.
1. Ordinary courts and the levels of litigation
As a general rule, ordinary courts exercise jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters, including claims brought by or against the Government, unless the Constitution or an effective statute assigns the matter to a religious or special court [1]. The Judicial Council presents an overall structure with distinct levels and with specialized courts or chambers operating within the wider system. | Category | General role | Practical qualification | |---|---|---| | Magistrates’ courts | Hear matters assigned to them by law | Subject matter, value, and territory may all matter | | Courts of First Instance | Hear matters not assigned to another court and matters assigned by statute | Civil and criminal divisions and specialized first-instance courts may exist | | Courts of Appeal | Review appeals permitted from lower courts | The scope of review depends on the appeal statute and the judgment | | Court of Cassation | Primarily reviews legal application as a court of law | It is not an ordinary new trial level; statutes may provide exceptions | Magistrates’ and first-instance courts are common starting points, but not every case begins in the same place. The Judicial Council explains that magistrates’ courts are established and given territorial jurisdiction under the relevant regulatory framework, while first-instance courts generally hear claims that do not fall within another court’s jurisdiction and urgent applications assigned to them by law [1]. The Council’s official criminal-procedure page also describes first-instance criminal jurisdiction over offences referred by the public prosecution and over felonies for which legislation has not designated another court [2]. An appeal is not automatically a complete retrial in every file. The competent appellate court, the matters it may review, and whether a particular judgment is appealable depend on the governing statute and the character of the decision. The Ministry of Justice explains the general two-level model: judgments from first-level courts, including magistrates’ and first-instance courts, may be reviewed by appellate courts, while certain judgments and decisions may then be challenged before the Court of Cassation as a court of law rather than a court deciding the facts anew [3]. A time limit or fee stated for one type of proceeding must not be copied into another proceeding without current verification. The Court of Cassation is described by the Judicial Council as the top of the ordinary judicial hierarchy. Its ordinary role is to review legal application and promote consistency in judicial principles, not to conduct a new factual trial in every case. The Council’s page identifies statutory exceptions connected with certain categories, including matters of the High Criminal Court, State Security Court, and Police Court. The applicable statute for the particular proceeding must therefore be checked before a filing is described as cassation or before assuming what effect the challenge will have [1]. The ordinary-court system also includes practical categories that appear in the Ministry of Justice’s official court directory. The directory separates first-instance courts, appellate courts, cassation courts, magistrates’ courts, juvenile courts, prosecution offices, administrative courts, and the High Criminal Court [4]. The Judicial Council also describes specialized tax, customs, and economic courts or chambers. “Specialization” may therefore mean an independent court, a chamber within a court, or a subject-matter jurisdiction assigned by a special statute. A single label does not, by itself, identify the proper forum.
2. The administrative judiciary
The administrative judiciary is an independent path for disputes between individuals and administrative authorities concerning administrative decisions. The Judicial Council explains that the current system is organized on two levels: the Administrative Court as the first-instance court and the Supreme Administrative Court as the appellate court for final judgments issued by the Administrative Court, with review on both legal and substantive aspects as provided by law [5]. This is different from an ordinary private-law claim against another private person. The identity of the public authority, the existence and nature of a final administrative decision, and the relief requested all require careful analysis. The applicable law may permit the Administrative Court to consider compensation for damage connected with a decision or procedure within its jurisdiction when requested alongside an annulment claim. It may also consider urgent applications, including a temporary stay of execution where the statutory conditions are met [5]. This does not make a stay or compensation automatic. Each request depends on admissibility, facts, evidence, statutory requirements, and judicial assessment. A financial subject alone also does not make a dispute administrative; tax and customs litigation may follow their own specialized statutory routes.
3. Sharia courts
Sharia courts operate through a distinct framework administered by the Department of the Chief Justice and governed by legislation specific to the Sharia judiciary. The Department’s official overview places their principal jurisdiction in Muslim personal-status matters, specified blood-money claims subject to legal conditions, and matters concerning Islamic endowments [6]. Its examples include marriage, divorce and separation, dowry, maintenance, lineage, custody, guardianship, trusteeship, inheritance, interdiction, wills, and endowments. The exact jurisdiction remains subject to the current statute, the parties’ status, the requested relief, and the property involved. The Sharia system includes first-instance and appellate Sharia courts. The Supreme Sharia Court was introduced as the highest and final reference in the Sharia judiciary and as a court of law reviewing the application of law by Sharia courts [7]. The Department states that it hears challenges and applications concerning judgments and decisions of Sharia appellate courts under the Sharia Procedures Law [7]. A dispute about marriage, inheritance, or an endowment should not be sent to an ordinary court merely because it includes a monetary claim. Conversely, not every family-related or inheritance-related question belongs in the same Sharia forum; religion, the legal nature of the claim, the type of property, and the requested order must be assessed. The Department’s official page on Sharia inheritance courts illustrates the importance of detail. It describes their work in recording and liquidating movable estate assets, distributing them among heirs, and paying debts, while noting matters connected with immovable property or issues outside that jurisdiction [8]. This does not mean every estate issue is handled by the same office. It shows why the asset type, the procedural request, the inheritance document, and any dispute over ownership must be identified first.
4. Courts and judicial divisions with special jurisdiction
The legislature may create a court or a specialized judicial route for a defined subject, category of offence, or group of persons. The Ministry of Justice directory separates administrative courts, the High Criminal Court, juvenile courts, and the ordinary first-instance, appellate, and cassation courts. Its official services guide also contains services connected with the State Security Court, Police Court, customs courts, and tax courts [4] [9]. These bodies do not all share one procedural level or legal character. Some are specialized courts, some are ordinary courts with subject-matter jurisdiction, and some are an appeal or enforcement route created by statute. For matters involving juveniles, customs, taxes, major felonies, or an offence assigned by a special law to a designated forum, the first question is the governing statute. Jurisdiction can change when legislation is amended, a court is created, or an assignment of jurisdiction is transferred. The electronic court directory is useful for confirming a current court name, location, and contact details, but it does not replace the current legislation or professional legal advice.
How should a person identify the correct route?
Start by classifying the dispute: civil, criminal, administrative, personal status, endowment, inheritance, tax, customs, juvenile, or another subject assigned to a designated forum. Then identify the parties, whether a final administrative decision exists, the type of property or conduct involved, and the relevant territory. Next, check the current legal text and the official court directory. Before filing, verify admissibility, the available appeal route, current fees, and time limits. Do not rely on an old form, a past case, or an informal internet summary. > This article is for general education only. It is not legal advice and does not promise any judicial outcome. Jordanian law, fees, and deadlines can change; consult a licensed Jordanian lawyer before taking action or allowing a deadline to expire.
References
[1]: https://www.jc.jo/Ar/Pages/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9 "Jordanian Judicial Council, Overview of the Judiciary" [2]: https://jc.jo/AR/ListDetails/%D8%A5%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%83%D9%85/1198/4 "Jordanian Judicial Council, Criminal First-Instance Court Procedures" [3]: https://www.moj.gov.jo/AR/Pages/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 "Jordanian Ministry of Justice, Legal Terms" [4]: https://www.moj.gov.jo/AR/List/%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%83%D9%85 "Jordanian Ministry of Justice, Court Directory" [5]: https://www.jc.jo/AR/Pages/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A "Jordanian Judicial Council, Administrative Judiciary" [6]: https://sjd.gov.jo/AR/Pages/%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B0%D8%A9_%D8%B9%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A9 "Department of the Chief Justice, Overview of the Department" [7]: https://sjd.gov.jo/AR/Pages/%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B0%D8%A9_%D8%B9%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9 "Department of the Chief Justice, Overview of the Supreme Sharia Court" [9]: https://www.moj.gov.jo/EBV4.0/Root_Storage/AR/EB_HomePage/%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA_2021.pdf "Jordanian Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Services Guide 2021"