Editing Politics of Lesotho (section)

==Judicial branch==
The constitution provides for an independent hierarchical judicial system. The judiciary is made up of the High Court of Lesotho, the [[Court of Appeal]], magistrate's courts, and traditional (customary) courts which exist predominantly in rural areas. There is no trial by jury; rather, judges make rulings alone, or, in the case of criminal trials, with two other judges as observers. The constitution also protects basic civil liberties, including freedom of speech, association, and the press; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/Lesotho.html|title= The Law and Legal Research in Lesotho|publisher= Hauser Global Law School Program|access-date= 5 March 2016}}</ref>

The Court of Appeal is located in Maseru and consists of a President and 6 justices of Appeal.

The High Court has unlimited original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters, as well as appellate jurisdiction from the lower courts and comprises a Chief Justice and other puisne judges. Parallel to the High Court is the Labour Court, which is a specialist court dealing exclusively with industrial and labour matters.

Magistrates Courts are presided over by judicial officers (magistrates) employed as civil servants. They are not courts of record and as such their decisions are not binding on future cases.

The Chief Justice and Justices of the Court of Appeal are appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister. Puisne judges of the High Court are appointed by the King on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. High Court judges may retire any time after attaining the age of 75 but may be removed from office by the King for malfeasance or infirmity.

;Chief Justices:

* 1937-1948 Sir Walter Huggard (British)
* 1950-1952 Sir Walter Harragin (British)
* 1952-1956 Harold Curwen Willan (British)
* 1959-1961 Cox (British)
* 1961-1962 Elyan (British)
* 1962-1965 Watkin Williams (British)
* 1965-1966 Benson (British)
* 1966-1968 Johnston
* 1968–1973 Hendrik Rudolf Jacobs (South African)
* 1974–1975 Joas Tseliso Mapetla
* 1976–1986 [[Taufik Cotran|Taufik Suliman Cotran]] (afterwards [[Chief Justice of Belize]], 1986)
* 1986–1993 Peter Brendan Cullinan
* <1994–2002 Joseph Lebona Kheola
* 2002–2013 Mahapela Lehohla
** 2004 Baptista Molai (acting)
** 2013 Tseliso Monaphathi (acting)
* 2014-2018 [[Nthomeng Majara]]
* 2020-Present Sakoane Peter Sakoane