Siamese courts

Siamese courts, historically associated with Thailand’s monarchy, refer to a dual judicial system comprising the traditional royal or Buddhist courts and the formal, centralized judicial institutions introduced during modernization. The term highlights the coexistence of customary, religious-based legal practices alongside Western-influenced courts. This system allowed the monarchy to maintain influence over certain legal matters, especially those related to tradition and religion, while the formal courts handled civil and criminal cases. Today, the modern Thai judiciary primarily operates within the state’s legal framework, but the historical concept of Siamese courts reflects Thailand's blending of tradition and modernity in its legal system.