(a) The trial division of the High Court shall be a court of general jurisdiction with the power to hear any matter not otherwise provided for by statute. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the trial division of the High Court shall have original jurisdiction of the following classes of cases and controversies:
(1) civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $15,000, except land and titles matters as provided in subsection (b);
(2) criminal cases in which a felony is charged;
(3) admiralty and maritime matters, of which the trial division shall have both in rem and in personam jurisdiction;
(4) juvenile cases;
(5) the probate of wills and administration of estates;
(6) domestic relations, except adoptions and actions arising under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act;
(7) all writs; and
(8) all matters of which the trial division has jurisdiction by statute.
(b) The land and titles division of the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction:
(1) in all matters relating to matai titles; and
(2) in all controversies relating to land.
(c) The Appellate Division of the High Court shall have jurisdiction to review, on appeal, final decisions of the trial and land and titles divisions of the High Court, matters on appeal from the District Court as provided in 3.0309, appeals of administrative decisions as provided in 4.1040 through 4.1044 and appeals of other matters specifically provided for by statute.
History: 1962, PL 7-36; 1967, PL 10-17; 1968, PL 10-62; 1969, PL 11-54; 1969, PL 11-59; 1970, PL 11-116; 1970, PL 11-119;amd 1975, PL 14-18; 1979, PL 16-28 § 11; 1979, PL 16-53 § 6; amd 1985, PL 19-8 § 1, amd 2008, PL 30-22.
Amendments: 1975 Subsection (a): provided for in rem jurisdiction in admiralty and maritime matters.
1979 Subsection (a): PL 16-28 added first sentence giving court general jurisdiction, and generally changed the specifics of the court’s jurisdiction us remainder of subsection.
PL 16-53 took original jurisdiction in actions under Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act from court and provided court did not have original jurisdiction of adoptions.
Subsection (b): deleted.
Subsection (c): deleted.
Subsection (d): redesignated as subsection (b) and deleted lands and titles division’s jurisdiction over Samoan names and titles, substituting jurisdiction over matai titles.
Subsection (e): deleted.
Subsection (f): redesignated as subsection (c), and deleted probate appeal jurisdiction, and added jurisdiction over district court appeals, administrative appeals and appeals of other matters provided for by statute.
Paragraph (a) (6): deleted “including” and added “except adoptions and”.
1985 Subsection (a)(1) deleted “$3,000” and added “$5,000″.