The judicial power of the Kingdom of Tonga is vested in the Supreme Court, the Magistrate's Court and the Land Court. The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and such other judges as the King may appoint. The Chief Justice was a member of Privy Council until 1942. There is a right of appeal to the Privy Council from decisions of the Supreme Court in its civil jurisdication. Under the 1903 Statutes the Minister of Lands, subject to appeal to the Privy Council, was given power to hear all disputes affecting land. In 1917 a Land Commission was set up to deal with disputes and calims affecting land. This Commission was vested with the power and status of the Supreme Court. In 1921 this Commission was abolished and the Land Court was formally constituted with power to hear and determine all disputes and claims and questions of title affecting land or any interest in land. The Land Court consists of the Land Court Judge, at present the Chief Justice, who sits with an assessor. The duty of the Assesssor is to advise the Judge on Tongan custom. He has no voice in the decisions of the court.

Supreme Court of Tonga: civil and divorce registers, 1905-1992; adoption registers, 1987-1992; criminal registers, Tongatapu, 1969-1992; Civil action registers, 1985-1992; miscellaneous judgements, 1975-1992; miscellaneous appeal judgements, 1986-1995; photographs of Mr Justice George Scott CJ, Mr Justice Henry Stead, Roberts CJ and Mr Justice D. B. Hunter. Land Court of Tonga: minute books, 1923-1940; registers, 1923-1991; land case files (selected documents from available files), 1947-1992. Court of Appeal: miscellaneous judgements, 1990-1995; Privy Council Court of Appeal judgements, 1924, 1954-1988.<P><B>See reel list for further details</B>