District Court of Queensland

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Queensland Court Hierarchy
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Queensland Law Courts Supreme Court of Queensland Queensland Court of Appeal District Court of Queensland Magistrates' Court of Queensland Small Claims Division\|

The District Court of Queensland is a court in Queensland, a state of Australia. It deals with serious criminal cases of an indictable nature, such as armed robbery, rape and dangerous driving. It also deals with more-serious civil disputes which the Magistrates' Court of Queensland cannot deal with. It also hears certain appeals from decisions made in the Magistrates Court.

1 History
2 Composition
3 Location
4 Caseload
5 General
6 References

[edit] History

The original court was established in 1866 to ease the Supreme Court workload. However, in 1921 the Queensland Parliament decided District Courts were no longer necessary and the courts were abolished. They were re-established in 1958 to relieve the workload in the Supreme Court of Queensland.

The present court is constitued under the District Court Act of Queensland Act 1967 (Qld). That act amalgamated the previous District Court in existence prior to 1967 into the new District Court.

[edit] Composition

The Governor of Queensland may appoint a chief judge of the court. The governor may also appoint judges to the court. The appointment is by way of the issuing of a commission under the great seal of the state.

The current chief judge is Her Honour Chief Judge Patricia Mary Wolfe.

The current judges of the court are:

Brisbane

Judge N.A. Skoien (Senior Judge) - 1982
Judge G. Trafford-Walker (Senior Judge) - 1983
Judge W. Howell - 27 July 1984
Judge G.S. Forno, Q.C. - 19 February 1988
Judge H. Botting - 3 May 1989
Judge M.J. Noud - 17 July 1989
Judge K.J O'Brien - 27 October 1989
Judge N.F. McLauchlan, Q.C.
Judge P.D. Robin, Q.C. - 1 May 1990
Judge H. O'Sullivan - 1991
Judge P.G. Nase - 12 August 1993
Judge M.W. Forde - 25 January 1995
Judge C.J.L. Brabazon, Q.C - November 1995
Judge D.J. McGill, S.C. - 9 September 1996
Judge N. Samios - 21 August 1998
Judge M.J. Shanahan
Judge J. M. Dick, S.C. - 14 December 2000
Judge A.M. Wilson S.C. - 24 May 2001
Judge W. Tutt - 24 May 2004
Judge M. Griffin - 29 October 2004
Judge Ryrie - 28 February 2005
Judge T Rafter -15 December 2006

Townsville

Judge R.D Pack - 18 December 1997
Judge Durward SC - 21 August 2006

Rockhampton

Judge G. Britton S.C. - 26 November 1998

Southport

Judge J.E. Newton - 25 February 1991
Judge C.F Wall Q.C - 11 September 1996
Judge M. E. Rackemann - 12 January 2004
Judge F Kingham -17 July 2006

Cairns

Judge P.J. White - 28 August 1992
Judge S.Bradley - 25 March 1999

Maroochydore

Judge K.S. Dodds - 14 March 1986
Judge J.M. Robertson - 24 September 1994

Ipswich

Judge D. Richards - 1 December 1998

Beenleigh

Judge I. Dearden - 28 February 2005

The governor may also appoint judicial registrars and registrars for the court. They are officers of the court and do not constitute the court.

[edit] Location

There are District Courts in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Cairns, Southport, Ipswich, Beenleigh and Maroochydore. At certain times of the year, District Court judges hold court sittings in other centres.

[edit] Caseload

The District Court hears more than 8000 criminal and 1500 civil cases each year.

[edit] General

The District Court is open to members of the public and the media. However, as with the Magistrates Court, access to the hearing and media reporting of the case may be restricted if, for example, a defendant is under 17 years of age.