Supreme Court

The Supreme Court was established under Article 124 of the Constitution of Zambia.  Other than for Constitutional matters, which are reserved for the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and has appellate jurisdiction to hear appeals from the Court of Appeal.  It also has jurisdiction that may be conferred by law.  The Supreme Court of Zambia ranks equivalently with the Constitutional Court.  The present Supreme Court building was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on the 11 July 1957.  On 14 September 1973, the Supreme Court Act Chapter 27 of the Laws of Zambia was passed to provide for the constitution, procedure, and jurisdiction of the Court.  The first Chief Justice was Sir Leicester Beaufort (1853-1926) who served from 1901 to 1918.  The number of Supreme Court Judges has since increased to 13 Judges including the Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice.