Supreme Court of Victoria
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The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It is a court of common law and equity, and has unlimited jurisdiction within the state. Those courts lying below it include the County Court of Victoria, the Magistrates' Court of Victoria and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (which is technically not a court, but serves a judicial function). Above it lies the High Court of Australia. This places it around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy.
The Supreme Court has two divisions - the Trial Division and the Court of Appeal.
The Trial Division usually acts as a court of original jurisdiction for murder, attempted murder, and manslaughter charges, and civil matters which involve amounts of money more than the Magistrates' Court or County Court are able to decide (this is currently any amount above $200,000 except in personal injury claims). It also acts as an appeal court from the Magistrates' Court on questions of law. It also hears federal indictable offences.
The Court of Appeal hears appeals from the County Court and the Trial Division and usually consists of a panel of three Justices of Appeal.
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[edit] Locations
The main buildings for the Supreme Court are located at the corner of William and Lonsdale Streets in Melbourne and in nearby buildings.[1]
The Supreme Court also does circuits to Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Hamilton, Horsham, Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Sale. In these locations the Court uses the facilities of the local Magistrates' Court.[2]
[edit] Current Judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria
As of 2006 (appointment date in brackets):
[edit] Chief Justice
- Marilyn Warren (26 November 2003)
[edit] President of the Court of Appeal
- Chris Maxwell (18 July 2005}
[edit] Judges of the Court of Appeal
- Frank Callaway (7 June 1995)
- Peter Buchanan (28 October 1997)
- Alex Chernov (13 October 1998)
- Frank Vincent (12 June 2001)
- Geoffrey Eames (15 March 2002)
- Geoffrey Nettle (8 June 2004)
- David Ashley (21 June 2005)
- Marcia Neave (22 February 2006)
- Robert Redlich (8 May 2006)
[edit] Judges
- Bernard Teague (13 October 1987)
- Philip Cummins (17 February 1988)
- Thomas Smith (1 May 1990)
- John Coldrey (19 February 1991)
- David Byrne (20 August 1991)
- David Harper (11 March 1992)
- Hartley Hansen (6 April 1994)
- Philip Mandie (10 May 1994)
- Eugene William (Bill) Gillard (6 May 1997)
- Murray Kellam (28 January 1998)
- Bernard Bongiorno (18 December 2000)
- David Habersberger (3 July 2001)
- Robert Osborn (9 May 2002)
- Julie Dodds-Streeton (23 July 2002)
- Katherine Williams (25 October 2002)
- Stuart Morris (9 April 2003)
- Stephen Kaye (16 December 2003)
- Simon Whelan (17 March 2004)
- Elizabeth Hollingworth (7 June 2004)
- Kevin Bell (10 February 2005)
- Kim Hargrave (18 March 2005)
- Betty King (21 June 2005)
- Anthony Cavanough (8 May 2006)
- Elizabeth Curtain
[edit] See also
Government: Parliament (Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council) • Monarchy • Governor
Courts: High Court of Australia • Supreme Court • County Court • Magistrates' Court • VCAT
Victorian Legislative Elections: 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 1999 • 2002 • 2006
