The Rivers State Judiciary came into being on 27th May, 1967 following the creation of twelve (12) States (Rivers State inclusive) in Nigeria by the General Yakubu Gowon Military Administration vide Decree No. 14 of 1967. The Rivers State Judiciary started with only one Judicial Division (Port Harcourt) and three (3) Magisterial Districts (namely; Ahoada, Brass and Degema) which served the entire old Rivers State – the present day Rivers State and Bayelsa State.

The first Chief Justice of Rivers State (as it was then called), was Hon. Justice Michael Holden C. B. E., a Briton who was appointed into the office on the 1st of September, 1970. He served as a Chief Justice for 6 years – 1970-1976 and upon his retirement, he was succeeded by the first indigenous Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice (Chief) Ambrose. E. Allagoa. Since then, the Rivers State Judiciary has been headed by eight (8) successive Chief Judges before the present Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi (DSSRS) who was sworn-in as Chief Judge on the 26th day of May, 2021; as the 9th Chief Judge of Rivers State.

 Some of the Pioneer Judges of Rivers State Judiciary include; Hon. Justice Ambrose E. Allagoa, Hon. Justice (Chief) Opubo Inko-Tariah, Hon. Justice (Chief) Donald Graham-Douglas, Hon. Justice Wai-Ogosu, Hon. Justice Reider J. Jacks, Hon. Justice B. B. Pepple, Hon. Justice J. D. Manuel, Hon. Justice M. R. Manuel, Hon. Justice (Chief) R. P. G. Okara, Hon. Justice G. Okoro-Idogu, Hon. Justice J. A. Fiberesima, Hon. Justice Felix N. N. Ichoku and Hon. Justice W. D. Dappa; the earliest Magistrates on the other hand were; Chief Opubo Inko-Tariah, F. N. N. Ichoku, B. B. Pepple, J. D. Manuel, F. T. Eruba, Samuel Adoki, H. E. Wabara, S. B. Selema, E. W. Appah, V. M. Okor, F. F. Tabai and Ruskin Jamabo.

The Rivers State Judiciary has since its inception had seventeen (17) Chief Registrars including the present Chief Registrar, David D. Ihua-Maduenyi, Esq.  The first Chief Registrar was Chief Opubo Inko-Tariah. The Chief Registrar is assisted by two Deputy Chief Registrars (Deputy Chief Registrar, Administration and Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation) and a Chief Magistrate Administration.

PRESENT ARCHITECTURE OF RIVERS STATE JUDICIARY:

Since its creation in 1967, the Rivers State Judiciary has metamorphosed into various Specialized Sections. Presently, there are eleven (11) Judicial Divisions namely; Ahoada, Bori, Degema, Isiokpo, Nchia, Okehi, Okrika, Omoku, Oyigbo, Sakpeenwa and Port Harcourt presided over by thirty nine (39) High Court Judges, including the Chief Judge of the State. There are also thirty-seven (37) Magisterial Districts presided over by sixty-two (62) Magistrates. The Magisterial Districts are: Abua, Abuloma, Ahoada, Akabuka, Akinima, Bonny, Bori, Buguma, Choba, Degema, Edeoha, Egbema, Elele, Elelenwo, Elimgbu, Igwuruta, Isiokpo, Kpor, Nchia, Ndoni, Ngo, Nihi, Ogu, Okehi, Okrika, Omoku, Omuma, Onne, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, Rumuepirikom, Rumuodomaya, Rumuji, Saakpenwa, Taabaa, Ubima and Umuagbai.

On the 2nd of June, 2009, the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State was created with Hon. Justice Peter N. C. Agumagu KSC, LL.D as its pioneer President. He was succeeded by Hon. Justice Christiana Gabriel Nwankwo (now of blessed memory). The current President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor (DSSRS), was appointed and sworn in on the 4^th day of April, 2022. There are seven (7) Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal sitting in two (2) panels.

The Rivers State Judiciary also has thirty-Seven (37) Customary Courts manned by thirty-seven (37) Chairmen and Seventy-four (74) Members. Each Customary Court sits as a panel, made up of one (1) Chairman and two (2) Members. The Customary Courts are overseen by the President of the Customary Court of Appeal.

In compliance with the provisions of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, No. 7, of 2015, the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council (ACJMC) was inaugurated on the 15th August, 2020 with the Hon. Chief Judge as its Chairman and Chief Magistrate, Ilanye Diane Brown as the Secretary. Membership of the Council is drawn from different stakeholders in the Criminal Justice Sector. The Council is thriving well and has won several national and international awards.

On the 14th October, 2021 the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse (RSMDC), a court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Center was inaugurated by His Excellency, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, then Governor of Rivers State. The Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse Law No.9 2019 is the legal instrument regulating the operation of the Center. The Chairman of the Governing Council of RSMDC is the Honourable Chief Judge while the pioneer Director and Secretary of Council is Chief Magistrate Victor E. Nweke.

The Rivers State Family Court (RSFC) was inaugurated on the 19th December, 2022. It is a special court with focus on matters pertaining to the rights, advancement and welfare of Children. The mantra of the Court is “the overall best interest of the Child”. Custody, Child Adoption, Child-Maintenance and Administration of Child Justice System in Criminal matters are some of the items that are handled by the Family Court. Specialized and trained personnel man the RSFC both at the High Court and Magistrates’ Court levels.