District Court of Queensland

Cairns Courthouse, a permanent location for the District Court

Established| 1866–1921; 1958
Jurisdiction|  Queensland
Location| Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law in Brisbane; Beenleigh; Cairns; Ipswich; Maroochydore; Rockhampton; Southport, Townsville
Composition method| Vice-regal appointment upon nomination by the Premier following the advice of the Attorney-General and Cabinet
Authorised by| Queensland Parliament via the: District Court Act 1967 (QLD)
Appeals to| Supreme Court of Queensland
Appeals from| Magistrates Court of Queensland
Judge term length| mandatory retirement by age of 70
Number of positions| 39
Website| www.courts.qld.gov.au
Chief Judge
Currently| Brian Devereaux SC
Since| 17 August 2020 (2020-08-17)

The District Court of Queensland (QDC) is the second tier in the court hierarchy of Queensland, Australia.[1] The Court deals with serious criminal offences such as rape, armed robbery and fraud. Juries are used to decide if defendants are guilty or not guilty.

The original court was established in 1866 to ease the workload of the Supreme Court of Queensland. However, in 1921 the Queensland Parliament decided District Courts were no longer necessary and the courts were abolished. They were re-established by Parliament in 1958, again to relieve the workload in the Supreme Court. The present court is constituted under the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (Qld).[2] That Act amalgamated the previous District Court in existence prior to 1967 into the new District Court.

The District Court sits in 32 locations across Queensland. Judges also travel throughout the state to hear matters in regional and remote areas.

Decisions made by the District Court may be heard on appeal to the Supreme Court; and the District Court may sit as an appellate court for decisions made in the Magistrates Court of Queensland.[1] The unreported judgments of the District Courts is published on the Queensland Judgments website.

## Jurisdiction

[edit]

Queensland Court Hierarchy

Federal Law Courts

* High Court of Australia

Queensland Law Courts

* Supreme Court of Queensland
* Court of Appeal
* Trial Division
* Court of Disputed Returns
* District Court of Queensland
* Planning and Environment Court
* Children's Court of Queensland
* Coroners Court of Queensland
* Land Court
* Industrial Court of Queensland
* Magistrates Court of Queensland

Tribunals

* Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal

### Civil

[edit]

The District Court has jurisdiction to hear civil matters for which the amount in dispute is less than or equal to $750,000, and more than $150,000.[1] Civil disputes in which the amount in dispute is more than $750,000 are heard by the Supreme Court, while those in which the amount is $150,000 or less are heard by either the Magistrates Court or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.[1] District Court civil decisions are published on the Queensland Judgments website.

### Criminal

[edit]

The District Court has the jurisdiction to hear criminal matters in which the defendant has been charged with a serious indictable offence (such as armed robbery, rape, and dangerous driving).[1] These trials require a jury. District Court criminal decisions are published on the Queensland Judgments website.

## Composition

[edit]

### Chief Judge of the District Court

[edit]

Name | Date appointed | Term in office | Notes

|
|
|

Chief Judge Brian G Devereaux SC  | 17 August 2020 (2020-08-17) | 4 years, 355 days  | [3]

### Judges of the District Court

[edit]

The District Court operates permanent courts in Brisbane, located in the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law building on George Street, Brisbane CBD; and Cairns, Ipswich, Maroochydore, Rockhampton, Southport, Townsville, and sits in regional areas as required.[1][4] In Brisbane, the District Court shares the location with the Supreme Court.

As of April 2021[update], the judges who sat at the District Court, together with their location, were:[3]

Name | Location | Date appointed | Term in office | Comments

|
|
|
|

Judge John Allen QC | Brisbane | 17 December 2018 (2018-12-17) | 6 years, 233 days | Deputy President, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Judge Ken Barlow QC | Brisbane | 18 June 2019 (2019-06-18) | 6 years, 50 days |
Judge Michael J. F. Burnett | Rockhampton | 3 November 2014 (2014-11-03) | 10 years, 277 days |
Judge Michael Byrne QC | Brisbane | 20 January 2020 (2020-01-20) | 5 years, 199 days |
Judge Glen Cash QC | Maroochydore | 2 July 2018 (2018-07-02) | 7 years, 36 days |
Judge Craig Chowdhury | Beenleigh | 13 May 2016 (2016-05-13) | 9 years, 86 days |
Judge Leanne Clare SC | Brisbane | 2 April 2008 (2008-04-02) | 17 years, 127 days |
Judge Jeffrey Clarke | Rockhampton | 31 August 2020 (2020-08-31) | 4 years, 341 days |
Judge John Coker | Townsville | 8 March 2018 (2018-03-08) | 7 years, 152 days |
Judge Geraldine Dann | Southport | 7 September 2020 (2020-09-07) | 4 years, 334 days |
Judge Ian Dearden | Brisbane | 28 February 2005 (2005-02-28) | 20 years, 160 days |
Justice Julie M. Dick SC | Brisbane | 14 December 2000 (2000-12-14) | 24 years, 236 days |
Judge William G. Everson | Brisbane | 2 April 2008 (2008-04-02) | 17 years, 127 days |
Judge Tracy Fantin QC | Brisbane | 16 October 2017 (2017-10-16) | 7 years, 295 days |
Judge Brad Farr SC | Brisbane | 11 August 2011 (2011-08-11) | 13 years, 361 days |
Judge Terry Gardiner | Brisbane | 8 July 2019 (2019-07-08) | 6 years, 30 days | Also Chief Magistrate
Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC | Ipswich | 20 October 2012 (2012-10-20) | 12 years, 291 days |
Judge Rowan Jackson QC | Southport | 31 August 2020 (2020-08-31) | 4 years, 341 days |
Judge Nathan Jarro | Brisbane | 26 March 2018 (2018-03-26) | 7 years, 134 days |
Judge Richard Jones | Brisbane | 19 February 2010 (2010-02-19) | 15 years, 169 days |
Judge Nicole Kefford | Brisbane | 14 November 2016 (2016-11-14) | 8 years, 266 days |
Judge David Kent QC | Southport | 7 March 2016 (2016-03-07) | 9 years, 153 days |
Judge Gary Long SC | Maroochydore | 13 May 2011 (2011-05-13) | 14 years, 86 days |
Judge Vicki Loury QC | Brisbane | 17 December 2018 (2018-12-17) | 6 years, 233 days |
Judge Dennis Lynch QC | Ipswich | 2 December 2016 (2016-12-02) | 8 years, 248 days |
Judge Gregory Lynham | Townsville | 24 April 2017 (2017-04-24) | 8 years, 105 days |
Judge Dean P. Morzone QC | Cairns | 27 October 2014 (2014-10-27) | 10 years, 284 days |
Judge Tony Moynihan QC | Brisbane | 25 June 2015 (2015-06-25) | 10 years, 43 days |
Judge Catherine Muir | Southport | 14 November 2016 (2016-11-14) | 28 years, 332 days |
Judge Katherine M. McGinness | Southport | 17 July 2009 (2009-07-17) | 8 years, 266 days |
Judge Bernard Porter QC | Brisbane | 28 August 2017 (2017-08-28) | 7 years, 344 days |
Judge Michael E. Rackemann SC | Brisbane | 12 January 2004 (2004-01-12) | 21 years, 207 days |
Judge Anthony J. Rafter SC | Brisbane | 15 December 2006 (2006-12-15) | 18 years, 235 days |
Judge David Reid | Brisbane | 19 February 2010 (2010-02-19) | 15 years, 169 days |
Judge Deborah Richards | Brisbane | 26 November 1998 (1998-11-26) | 26 years, 254 days |
Judge Orazio Rinaudo | Brisbane | 8 July 2014 (2014-07-08) | 11 years, 30 days |
Judge Jennifer Rosengren | Brisbane | 11 September 2017 (2017-09-11) | 7 years, 330 days |
Judge Suzanne C. Sheridan | Brisbane | 24 November 2014 (2014-11-24) | 10 years, 256 days |
Judge Paul E. Smith | Brisbane | 8 March 2013 (2013-03-08) | 12 years, 152 days | Also Judge Administrator
Judge Michael Williamson QC | Brisbane | 19 March 2018 (2018-03-19) | 7 years, 141 days |

## See also

[edit]

* Queensland portal
* Law portal

* Judiciary of Australia
* List of Queensland courts and tribunals

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "The District Court of Queensland" (PDF). Department of Justice and Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
2. ^ District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (Qld)
3. ^ a b "Judges of the District Court contacts". Department of Justice and Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
4. ^ "Courthouses contacts". Department of Justice ad Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.

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