Special Courts (1 judge) Traffic, labor, juvenile, military and
municipal courts, with clearly defined jurisdiction;
administrative tribunals. Religious Courts (1 or 3 judges)
Jurisdiction in matters of personal status (marriage, divorce,
maintenance, guardianship, adoption) vested in judicial
institutions of the respective religious communities: Jewish
rabbinical courts, Muslim sharia courts, Druze religious courts,
ecclesiastical courts of the ten recognized Christian
communities in Israel. Magistrates’ Court (1 judge) Civil and
minor criminal offenses; jurisdiction in civil and criminal
cases. District Court (1 or 3 judges) Appellate jurisdiction
over magistrates’ courts; original jurisdiction in more
important civil and criminal cases. Supreme Court (1, 3, 5 or a
larger uneven number of judges) Ultimate appellate jurisdiction
nationwide; right to address issues when necessary to intervene
for the sake of justice; authority to release persons illegally
detained or imprisoned; sitting as a High Court of Jus