The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Africa
Judicial branch Lesotho, in 36 editions.
The entry for Lesotho published Judicial branch in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 18 editions. Each is shown as published. Judicial branch in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 18
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Judicial branch” (1990 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024High Court, Court of Appeal Chief of State--King MOSHOESHOE II (Paramount Chief from 1960 until independence on 4 October 1966, when he became King); Heir Apparent Letsie David SEEISO (son of the King); Head of Government--Chairman of the Military Council Maj. Gen. Justin Metsing LEKHANYA (since 24 January 1986)
High Court, Court of Appeal Chief of State--King MOSHOESHOE II (Paramount Chief from 1960 until independence on 4 October 1966, when he became King); Heir Apparent Letsie David SEEISO (son of the King); Head of Government--Chairman of the Military Council Maj. Gen. Justin Metsing LEKHANYA (since 24 January 1986)
High Court, Court of Appeal Chief of State--King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990 following dismissal of his father, exiled King MOSHOESHOE II, by Maj. Gen. LEKHANYA); Head of Government--Chairman of the Military Council Col. Elias Phisoana RAMAEMA (since 30 April 1991) Basotho National Party (BNP), Matete MAJARA (interim leader); Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE; National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), S. H. MAPHELEBA; United Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob KENYA
Rewritten: too little of the 1990 text remains to mark the changes.
High Court, Court of Appeal Chief of State--King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990 following dismissal of his father, exiled King MOSHOESHOE II, by Maj. Gen. LEKHANYA); Head of Government--Chairman of the Military Council Col. Elias Phisoana RAMAEMA (since 30 April 1991) Basotho National Party (BNP), Matete MAJARA (interim leader); Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE; National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), S. H. MAPHELEBA; United Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob KENYA
The same text in 3 editions, 1992 to 1994.
High Court, Court of Appeal
Rewritten: too little of the 1991 text remains to mark the changes.
High Court, Court of Appeal
- High Court,
- Court of Appeal,
- Magistrate's Court,
- customary or traditional court
High Court, Court of Appeal Appeal, Magistrate's Court,
customary or traditional court
The same text in 1996 and 1997.
- High Court;
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate's Court;
- customary or traditional court
High Court, Court; Court of Appeal, Appeal; Magistrate's Court, Court;
customary or traditional court
- High Court, Chief Justice appointed by the king;
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate's Court;
- customary or traditional court
High Court; Court, Chief Justice appointed by the king;
Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court;
- High Court, chief justice appointed by the monarch;
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate's Court;
- customary or traditional court
High Court, Chief Justice chief justice appointed by the king;
monarch; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or
traditional court
- High Court, chief justice appointed by the monarch;
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate's Court;
- customary or traditional court
High Court, chief justice appointed by the
The same text in 4 editions, 2001 to 2004.
- High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch);
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate's Court;
- customary or traditional court
High Court, chief Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch; monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
The same text in 2005 and 2006.
- High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister);
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate's Court;
- customary or traditional court
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
The same text in 2007 and 2008.
- High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister);
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional court
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional court
The same text in 2009 and 2010.
- High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the prime minister);
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional court
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); prime minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional court
The same text in 2011 and 2012.
- High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the prime minister);
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional courts
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional court courts
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
- highest court(s):
- Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio);
- High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament);
- note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister;
- puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch;
- judges of both courts can serve until age 75
- subordinate courts:
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional courts;
- Courts Martial
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
highest court(s):
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament); note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office:
Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
subordinate courts:
Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; Courts Martial
- highest court(s):
- Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio);
- High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament);
- note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister;
- puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch;
- judges of both courts can serve until age 75
- subordinate courts:
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional courts;
- Courts Martial
highest court(s):
judge selection and term of office:
subordinate courts:
The same text in 2016 and 2017.
- highest court(s):
- Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio);
- High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament);
- note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister;
- puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch;
- judges of both courts can serve until age 75
- subordinate courts:
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional courts;
- military courts
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament); note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; Courts Martial military courts
The same text in 4 editions, 2018 to 2021.
- highest courts:
- Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio);
- High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament);
- note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister;
- puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch;
- judges of both courts can serve until age 75
- subordinate courts:
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional courts;
- military courts
highest court(s): courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament); note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts
The same text in 3 editions, 2022 to 2024.
- highest court(s):
- Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio);
- High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament);
- note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister;
- puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch;
- judges of both courts can serve until age 75
- subordinate courts:
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional courts;
- military courts
highest courts: court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament); note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts
- highest court(s):
- Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio);
- High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister;
- puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch;
- judges of both courts can serve until age 75
- subordinate courts:
- Magistrate Courts;
- customary or traditional courts;
- military courts
note: both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament); note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues Parliament)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts
note: both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Lesotho: Judicial branch.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/lesotho/judicial-branch.