Melbourne Magistrates' Court

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The Melbourne Magistrates' Court is a court in Melbourne, Australia that deals with relatively minor offences, like driving licence matters, money claims and disputes, family law and Specialist Courts like Koori Courts and Drug Courts.

1 Brief history
2 Recent history
3 Court Buildings Lonsdale and LaTrobe Streets
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Brief history

Though the current court inception is established by the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 (Parliament of Victoria). There has been a magistrate in Victoria essentially since 1836, when the people of Melbourne elected an Arbitrator of the city to resolve minor disputes.

A Police Magistrate, Captain Lonsdale was appointed also in 1836 and the first case was heard at a location near the present site of Southern Cross (Spencer Street) Station.

In 1838 a third court, the Court of Petty Sessions was created. And all three types of Courts by 1890 were held at 235 locations through out Victoira.

Police Magistrates were able to sit in on Petty Court sessions, but generally two or three Justices of the Peace were required for cases to be heard. The Court of Petty Sessions, also originally attended to matters under 20 pounds, and even criminal matters, like drunkenness and minor assaults.

Another thing the Magistrates' Court traditionally has done, was to order defendants make contributions to a "Poor Box" that was distributed to deserted wives and children, during maintenance proceedings and the like, rather than have the defendant serve a small time. In 1973 $121,095 was raised for the needy and charities this way, but in 2002 $2,184,066 was raised, what brought a little bit of controversy as the court no longer distributes directly to those in hard conditions but to charities like the Salvation Army.

[edit] Recent history

On the 29 May 2000, a Deed of Apology was signed for the treatment of Aboriginal peoples, which tied in with National Sorry Day actions, by the Magistrates' Courts. The Deed was received at the Wangaratta courthouse, by Wally Cooper. Walking Together website

The court was tied in with Police Corruption charges in 1995, where it is reported Magistrates would railroad peoples, as no recordings or independent records of cases were taken. This put a big shadow over the actions of the courts.

In 2000 the Chief Magistrate of the Court Mr Michael Adams was forced to stand down on the 31st October 2000, after claims that he harassed female members of his court. This was reported on The 7:30 report and was also whipped up in the Melbourne News papers, causing the extraordinary vote.

[edit] Court Buildings Lonsdale and LaTrobe Streets

On January 20th 1914 three courts were opened on the corners of LaTrobe and Lonsdale streets: The City Court, The District Court and a third Emergency Court. A feature of the District Court is a wooden canopy over the seat upon which the Magistrate sits. This canopy was taken from old Supreme Court which had originally been located at the site.

The Court was moved to its current address on William Street in 1995, and since then the building has been annexed as part of RMIT University and is used for lectures.