District Court (Ireland)

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The District Court (An Chúirt Dúiche in Irish) of Ireland consists of a President and sixty judges.

For the purposes of the administration of justice the country is divided into districts and at least one judge is assigned to each district. Cases heard in a district court include civil and criminal; family law and licensing applications are also heard in the court.

[edit] Jurisdiction

The Civil Jurisdiction is limited to damages not exceeding €6,350; the court has no equitable jurisdiction.

The Court has the power to renew licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor and grant licences for lotteries.

The Family Jurisdiction of the Court includes the power to award guardianship, grant protection or barring orders, and award maintenance of up to €150 a week.

The Criminal Jurisdiction is limited to summary offences - i.e. offences heard without a jury where the maximum punishment is 12 months imprisonment. Indictable offences may also be tried by the Court provided the accused, the judge and the Director of Public Prosecutions agree. In such a case the maximum penalty imposed by the judge for the indictable offence can not exceed 12 months imprisonment. Murder, treason, rape and aggravated sexual assault are crimes that can not be disposed of summararily in such a manner. Bail hearings for offences triable by both the District Court itself and the Circuit Court are heard here also with a right to appeal to the High Court for a refusal to grant bail.

[edit] Appeals

All judgements of the District Court in both civil and criminal trials can be appealed to a de novo hearing in front of the Circuit Court. The decisions of a District Court judge can also be judicially reviewed by the High Court.