As prescribed in the Magistrate's Code of Procedure, these courts are the primary courts of Antigua and Barbuda. For the purposes of holding Magistrates' Courts, Antigua and Barbuda is divided into three districts. Each District Magistrate is also a Justice of the Peace, and is responsible for holding preliminary inquiries into all criminal charges and small claims in civil matters. Decisions made at the Magistrate Court level may be appealed to the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.