How many courts are there in New South Wales?
In 1985 the Local Courts Act abolished Courts of Petty Sessions by changing their name to Local Courts and appointments are now made under that Act. There are currently 160 Local Courts established throughout New South Wales and 130 Magistrates appointed. Local Courts in New South Wales have jurisdiction to deal with:
What are the types of courts in Australia?
The principal Australian superior courts are: Division 1 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (a continuation of the Family Court of Australia) Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales Industrial Court of Queensland. All courts that are not superior courts are inferior courts.
What is the history of the district court in NSW?
History. The District Court Act 1973 (NSW) commenced on 1 July 1973. It abolished the District Courts and Courts of Quarter Sessions and established one District Court of New South Wales, with a statewide criminal and civil jurisdiction.
Where are sittings held in New South Wales District Court?
Full time sittings are held in the Sydney CBD, and at Parramatta, Penrith, Campbelltown, Newcastle, Gosford, Wollongong and Lismore. Part time sittings are held in a range of major regional centres. The District Court of New South Wales is the intermediate court in the judicial hierarchy of the Australian state of New South Wales.
How many local courts are there in NSW?
Formerly known as the Court of Petty Sessions and the Magistrates Court, there are more than 160 branches across New South Wales where the Local Court has jurisdiction to deal with the majority of minor civil and criminal matters.
What are the 4 types of courts?
Types of courts Basic distinctions must be made between criminal and civil courts, between courts of general jurisdiction and those of limited jurisdiction, and between appellate and trial courts. There are also constitutional, federal, and transnational courts.
What are the 3 courts in Australia?
Australia's federal courtsHigh Court of Australia. is the highest court and the final court of appeal in Australia. ... Federal Court of Australia. ... Family Court of Australia. ... Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
How many types of courts are there in Australia?
The Commonwealth has three levels of general federal courts: High Court. Federal Court. Division 2 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (a continuation of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia).
What are the five courts?
Learn more about the different types of federal courts.Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. ... Courts of Appeals. There are 13 appellate courts that sit below the U.S. Supreme Court, and they are called the U.S. Courts of Appeals. ... District Courts. ... Bankruptcy Courts. ... Article I Courts.
How many type of courts are there?
There are four types of courts in India, i.e., Supreme Court, High Court, District Court, and subordinate courts. The seat of the Supreme court is in New Delhi.
What is the highest court in NSW?
The NSW Supreme CourtThe NSW Supreme Court was first established in 1823, and is now regulated by the Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW). It is the largest superior court of general jurisdiction in Australia.
What is the lowest court in Australia?
magistrates' courtThe magistrates' court (or local court) handles summary matters and smaller civil matters. In jurisdictions without district or county courts, most of those matters are dealt with by the supreme courts.
How many high courts are there in Australia?
High Court of AustraliaAuthorized byAustralian Constitution s 71Appeals fromSupreme Courts of the States and Territories Federal Court Federal Circuit CourtJudge term lengthMandatory retirement by age 70Number of positions7, by statute11 more rows
Who is higher than a judge?
A chief judge (also known as chief justice, presiding judge, president judge or administrative judge) is the highest-ranking or most senior member of a court or tribunal with more than one judge.
What is higher than High Court?
The Supreme Court of India (SC of India), is at the top of the judicial hierarchy and the final court of appeal set up by the Indian Constitution.
What's the difference between courts?
Cases that State Courts Handle Generally speaking, state courts hear cases involving state law and federal courts handle cases involving federal law. Most criminal cases are heard in state court because most crimes are violations of state or local law.
Which court or tribunal?
Find information about the role of a court or tribunal and where your legal matter may be heard.
Court lists and sittings
Use the court lists to find the time and place of your court appearance or to find out what is happening in the courtrooms on a particular date.
Judgments and findings
Find the judgment or decision of a particular court or tribunal and learn about sentencing in NSW.
Court programs
Learn about programs which aim to break the substance abuse and crime cycle.
Preparing for court
Find information about preparing for court, the facilities and access to support services.
Going to tribunal
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) is the one-stop-shop for specialist tribunal services in NSW.
Representing yourself
Understand law and court procedures before representing yourself in court.
What is the district court in New South Wales?
The District Court of New South Wales is the intermediate court in the judicial hierarchy of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a trial court and has an appellate jurisdiction. In addition, the Judges of the Court preside over a range of tribunals. In its criminal jurisdiction, the Court may deal with all serious criminal offences ...
Which court has jurisdiction similar to the Superior Courts of England?
The Supreme Court of New South Wales which, under the Third Charter of Justice sealed in 1823, had a criminal and civil jurisdiction similar to that of the superior Courts of England; Courts of General and Quarter Sessions which could deal with "crimes and misdemeanours not punishable by death"; Court of Requests in Sydney and the County ...
What was the name of the law that divided the New South Wales colony into two districts?
As a result, the parliament passed the District Courts Act 1858 (NSW). This Act established District Courts, which divided the Colony into Districts and created a court of record for each district with a civil jurisdiction up to GB£ 200, to replace the Courts of Requests.
What are the types of criminal cases?
The District Court deals with a wide range of criminal matters. The only charges that the District Court cannot deal with are murder or treason, which must be dealt with by the Supreme Court. The types of criminal matters dealt with by the District Court include: 1 offences against the person: including offences like manslaughter, malicious wounding to inflict grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving; 2 assaults: including offences like common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault of police officers; 3 sexual assaults: including offences like sexual assault, indecent assault and carnal knowledge; 4 offences relating to property: including offences like robbery from the person, break, enter and steal, larceny (stealing) and embezzlement; 5 offences involving illicit drug use: including offences like the importation of heroin and other drugs into Australia, prohibited supply of drugs and possess prohibited drug; and 6 offences involving fraud: including offences like passing valueless cheques, obtaining money by deception and forgery.
Why did the population of NSW increase?
The population of NSW increased as a result of the gold rush of 1851 and became more dispersed. Litigation grew as the Colony prospered, and crime was not declining. The Supreme Court began to fall seriously into arrears, and this was not helped by the fact that it did not visit a lot of towns.
What is the District Court?
The District Court deals with a wide range of criminal matters. The only charges that the District Court cannot deal with are murder or treason, which must be dealt with by the Supreme Court. The types of criminal matters dealt with by the District Court include:
When did the intermediate courts become a single district court?
From 1955 instead of being appointed to a specific district, judges began to be appointed to "all district courts". The intermediate courts were reformed in 1973 by the District Court Act 1973, which abolished the Courts of Quarter Sessions and each of the District Courts and amalgamated their jurisdictions into a single District Court ...
NSW Courts and Tribunals
A short description and links to the websites of each court and tribunal in NSW
Administrative and corporate support
About Courts and Tribunal Services, a division of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice
History of the Courts and Tribunals
Timeline and history of NSW Courts and tribunals from when legislation first passed in 1787 to create the court system
Heritage
Access our annual reports detailing environmental measures. Also, learn about our heritage buildings and activities
Careers
Information on tipstaff, researcher and associate positions and opportunities as well as judicial appointments.
What is the highest court in New South Wales?
The Supreme Court is the highest court in New South Wales. It has unlimited civil jurisdiction and handles claims of more than $750 000. It deals with the most serious criminal matters, including murder and treason. The Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals from the District Court and Supreme Court plus certain Land and Environment Court appeals.
What is the district court?
District Court. The District Court is the 'middle court' in the state justice system. It is a trial court which deals with indictable criminal offences, except murder, treason and piracy. Its civil jurisdiction deals with civil claims from $100 000 to $750,000 and all motor accident cases.
What is the NCAT in NSW?
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) is the one-stop-shop for specialist tribunal services in NSW - consolidating the work of 22 former tribunals into a single point of access.
What court hears appeals from the Supreme Court?
The Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals from the District Court and Supreme Court plus certain Land and Environment Court appeals. The Court of Appeal is the highest civil court in the state and hears appeals from the Supreme Court, District Court, Land and Environment Court and some tribunals.
What is the jurisdiction of the local court?
The Local Court civil jurisdiction deals with civil claims up to $100,000. It deals with most criminal matters including summary offences, which are crimes such as stealing, assault and possession of drugs. More serious offences are referred to the District or Supreme Court after a committal hearing in the Local Court.
What is a child court?
Children's Court. The Children's Court is a specialist court which deals with matters related to the care and protection of children and young people. It also deals with criminal cases concerning children and young people, who were under 18 years old when they committed the crime.
What is the Land and Environment Court?
The Land and Environment Court of New South Wales is a specialist environmental and planning court, which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing planning and environmental law in the state. It deals with a wide range of civil disputes including appeals against government decisions; breaches of environmental and planning laws;
What is the hierarchy of courts in Australia?
These courts were established to hear and determine matters arising under Commonwealth laws. The Commonwealth Constitution established the High Court of Australia, which is the highest court in Australia.
What is the jurisdiction of a court?
Each court has a particular ‘jurisdiction’, which is the scope of a court’s authority to decide matters. The term comes from Latin: ‘juris’ – the law and ‘dictio’ – to say or declare. The jurisdiction given to a court will usually depend on the purpose for which the court was established, which is usually defined in legislation. Which court will have jurisdiction over a case may be based on geographical area, the type of parties who appear, the amount of money involved in the case, or the severity of the maximum penalty for an offence. For example, in NSW, a crime for which the maximum penalty is 14 years imprisonment will probably be heard by the District Court or the Supreme Court, while a crime for which the maximum penalty is only a fine will be heard by the Local Court.
Why is the High Court at the top of the hierarchy?
It is also at the top of the hierarchy of state courts, because decisions of state Supreme Courts may be able to be appealed to the High Court.
What is the difference between appellate jurisdiction and original jurisdiction?
Another distinction in jurisdiction is between 'original jurisdiction' and 'appellate jurisdiction'. The court where a particular matter is heard for the first time has ‘original jurisdiction’. If there is to be an appeal against the decision of the original court, the court that can hear the appeal has ‘appellate jurisdiction’.
Where do magistrates make their decisions?
Magistrates make decisions in the lower courts (the state local courts and the Federal Circuit Court). The higher in the hierarchy a court is, the greater the authority their decisions have for other courts. See also Precedent and evidence.
Which states do not have intermediate courts?
Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory do not have an intermediate level court. Courts are classified as either superior courts or inferior courts. The principal Australian superior courts are: Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales. Industrial Court of Queensland.
Is Queensland an inferior court?
Industrial Court of Queensland. All courts that are not superior courts are inferior courts. Intermediate courts (such as the District Court of New South Wales) are therefore technically inferior courts. Magistrates make decisions in the lower courts (the state local courts and the Federal Circuit Court). The higher in the hierarchy ...
