Judiciary of Snefaldia

The judicial branch is one of three branches of government in Snefaldia, along with the executive and legislative branches. Strictly speaking, it refers to the activities of the States-Federal court system. The Snefaldia court system is based on civil law modeled after the legal systems of other Western Atlantic nations, but with local characteristics.

Constitutionally, the court system is intended to exercise judicial power independently and free of interference from administrative organs, public organizations, and individuals. In reality, political considerations and influence from the executive influence judicial power to a high degree.

Snefaldian courts are divided into a four-level court system:

At the highest level is the Council of Grand Justices in Sargedaín, the premier appellate forum of the land, which supervises the administration of justice by all subordinate "local" and "special" courts. It is the court of last resort for the whole of Snefaldia excluding indigenous areas, Dominions, and overseas dependencies. The Supreme Justice of the Council of Grand Justice is Alti Spiran.

Local Circuit Courts—the courts of the first instance—handle criminal and civil cases. These circuit courts make up the remaining three levels of the court system and consist of "high circuit courts" at the level of the regions, autonomous regions, and special municipalities; "intermediate circuit courts" at the level of prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and municipalities; and "basic circuit courts" at the level of autonomous counties, towns, and municipal districts.

Courts of Special Jurisdiction (special courts) comprises the Military Court of Snefaldia (military), Railway Transport Court of Snefaldia (railroad transportation) and Maritime Court of Snefaldia (water transportation), and forestry.
The court system is paralleled by a hierarchy of prosecuting offices called Federal Procuratorates, the highest being the Supreme Snefaldian Procuratorate.