Magistrates Court of Queensland

The Brisbane Magistrates Court building, a location of the Magistrates Court

Jurisdiction|  Queensland
Location| 130 locations across Queensland
Composition method| Vice-regal appointment upon nomination by the Premier following the advice of the Attorney-General and Cabinet
Authorized by| Queensland Parliament via the:
Magistrates Courts Act 1921 (QLD)
Appeals to| District Court of Queensland
Judge term length| Mandatory retirement by age 70
Website| www.courts.qld.gov.au
Chief Magistrate of Queensland
Currently| Judge Janelle Brassington [1]
Since| 8 July 2022 (2022-07-08)
Deputy Chief Magistrate of Queensland
Currently| Anthony Gett & Stephen Courtney [2]
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

The Magistrates Court of Queensland is the lowest court in the court hierarchy of Queensland, Australia.[3] All criminal proceedings in Queensland begin in the Magistrates Court, with minor offences being dealt with summarily, and more serious ones being referred to a higher court on the strength of evidence.[3] Most criminal cases are first heard in the Magistrates Court, as are most civil cases. The Magistrates Court hears approximately 95% of all court cases in Queensland.[4]

Decisions made by the Magistrates Court may be heard on appeal to the District Court of Queensland. The Magistrates Court does not have an appellate jurisdiction.

The Chief Magistrate of Queensland, since 2022, is Judge Janelle Brassington.[1]

## Jurisdiction

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### Civil

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The Magistrates Court has the jurisdiction to decide on civil matters for which the amount in dispute is less than or equal to A$150,000.[5] Civil matters in which the amount in dispute is more than $150,000 are decided by either the District Court or the Supreme Court.[5]

### Criminal

[edit]

The Magistrates Court has the jurisdiction to decide on charges of summary offences, and indictable offence which may be heard summarily.[5]

The Magistrates Court also conducts committal hearings in which the presiding magistrate decides, based on the strength of the evidence, whether to refer the matter to a higher court.[5]

## Procedure

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Those present at court typically include the magistrate, police prosecutor, defendant, plaintiff and witnesses for either party. It is a condition that those who enter the court bow to the Queensland Coat of Arms, situated behind the Bench, upon entry. Plaintiffs, defendants, their counsel and witnesses must rise when they wish to address the bench or when addressed by the magistrate.

Members of the media and general public are allowed into the courtroom, except where a party to the proceedings is under 18 in which case the court becomes a child court and the media and public will only have restricted access to the court.

## Notable former magistrates

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* Di Fingleton
* Basil Gribbin

## See also

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* Queensland portal
* Law portal

* Australian court hierarchy
* Judiciary of Australia
* List of Queensland courts and tribunals

## References

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1. ^ a b "New Chief Magistrate and Magistrate appointed". 4 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.//
2. ^ "Magistrates in Queensland". 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
3. ^ a b "Magistrates Courts". Department of Justice and Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
4. ^ "About Magistrates Courts". Courts. Queensland Government. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
5. ^ a b c d "Magistrates Court of Queensland" (PDF). Department of Justice and Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

### Attribution

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* This Wikipedia article incorporates text from About Magistrates Courts published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 4 August 2016).

## External links

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* Magistrates Courts Act 1921 (Qld)

* v
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Queensland Government

Executive|

* Monarchy
* Governor
* Executive Council
* Cabinet
* Premier
* Deputy Premier
* Treasurer
* Attorney-General
* Department of the Premier and Cabinet
* Queensland Treasury
* Department of Justice and Attorney-General
* Department of Education
* Queensland Health
* Queensland Police Service
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* Queensland Ambulance Service

Legislature|

* Parliament
* Legislative Assembly
* Electoral districts
* Members of Parliament
* Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
* Leader of the House
* Opposition Leader
* Deputy Opposition Leader
* Shadow Cabinet
* Manager of Opposition Business

Judiciary|

* Supreme Court
* Court of Appeal
* Court of Disputed Returns
* District Court
* Children's Court of Queensland
* Magistrates Court
* Coroners Court of Queensland
* Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
* Other courts and tribunals

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Courts of the Australian states and territories

Commonwealth|

* High Court
* Federal Court
* Federal Circuit and Family Court
* Court of Disputed Returns
* List of Commonwealth courts and tribunals

New South Wales|

* Supreme Court
* District Court
* Local Court
* List of New South Wales courts and tribunals

Victoria|

* Supreme Court
* County Court
* Magistrates' Court
* List of Victorian courts and tribunals

Queensland|

* Supreme Court
* District Court
* Magistrates' Court
* List of Queensland courts and tribunals

Western Australia|

* Supreme Court
* Family Court
* District Court
* Magistrates Court
* List of Western Australian courts and tribunals

South Australia|

* Supreme Court
* District Court
* Magistrates' Court
* List of South Australian courts and tribunals

Tasmania|

* Supreme Court
* Magistrates Court
* List of Tasmanian courts and tribunals

Australian Capital Territory|

* Supreme Court
* Magistrates Court
* List of Australian Capital Territory courts and tribunals

Northern Territory|

* Supreme Court
* Local Court
* List of Northern Territory courts and tribunals

Norfolk Island|

* Supreme Court
* Court of Petty Sessions

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