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The District Court is the lowest court and has jurisdiction over both minor civil and minor criminal cases. It sits with a judge only. It is by far the busiest of the courts because the cases are dealt with summarily. It deals with family law, maintenance, custody, barring orders, domestic violence, guardianship and road traffic offences, non jury criminal offences such as drunkenness, other minor civil disturbances and liquor licences. The Small Claims court is part of the District court as is the Children courts in Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Limerick. Where the Children court is held outside of these cities it is known as the Juvenile court. The court deals with such family law matters as domestic violence, guardianship of children and maintenance orders.

The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases such as family law, divorce, judicial separations and nullity. It sits with a judge and jury. Family law cases are held in private and it deals with custody, access, barring and protection orders. On the criminal side it may hear all indictable offences except murder, rape, and aggravated sexual assault.

The Special Criminal Court sits with 3 judges and no jury and deals with acts of terrorism and other offences against the state.

The Central Criminal Court is the criminal side of the High Court and deals with serious criminal matters such as murder and rape. It sits with a judge and jury.

The High Court has power to deal with all matters whether civil or criminal and is the appeal court for the Circuit and District courts as well as applications for bail or changes in bail conditions. These bail applications are usually heard in Cloverhill court on Mondays. The High Court normally sits with a judge and a jury and determines such matters as Wards of court, whether children or persons of unsound mind, and from then on it looks after their affairs. It may also conduct judicial reviews.

The Court of Criminal Appeals is the criminal appeal court similar to the Supreme Court for criminal issues referred from the lower courts; it may also refer appeals to the Supreme Court. It sits with 3 judges and no jury.

The Supreme Court is the court of final appeal. It deals with appeals on Constitutional matters and appeals on points of law referred to it from the lower courts and sits with 3, 5 or 7 judges according to the importance of the appeal case. It does not sit with a jury.