- County Court of Victoria
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The County Court of Victoria (formally 'the County Court') was established in 1852 by the County Courts Act 1852. The court has jurisdiction in the State of Victoria, Australia. Its role has since changed significantly.
The current Chief Judge of the County Court is His Honour Chief Judge Michael Rozenes QC, a former Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Contents
History
The Victorian County Court (which holds the same level of seniority as the District Courts in other states except Tasmania) was formed in 1852 as the court for the County of Bourke. It was modelled on the British County Courts which had been established in 1846. The Court's principal purpose was to handle small civil claims, and eventually this role evolved (with the partnering of the Court of General Sessions) into both civil and criminal jurisdiction in 1968. Since that time, the Court's jurisdiction has increased considerably.
Jurisdiction
Civil
The civil jurisdiction of the County Court (in Victoria) extends to:
- All claims for personal and non-personal injuries and losses, irrespective of the amount claimed.
- Claims against municipal councils for loss or injury sustained while upon or using roads, land, buildings under the control of the council or municipality.
- Actions where jurisdiction is specifically conferred on the County Court by a statute. The list includes: the Administration and Probate Act, the Adoption Act, the Cluster Titles Act, the Property Law Act, the Settled Land Act, the Strata Titles Act, the Transfer of Land Act & the Trustee Act.
Criminal
The County Court is the general trial court for Victoria. It has jurisdiction to hear all indictable criminal matters except treason, murder and manslaughter, which are heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
The County Court also hear appeals from the Magistrates' Court regarding criminal cases. These are hearings de novo. (Civil appeals from the Magistrates' Court are only permitted on a point of law and are heard in the Supreme Court Appeals Division.) All decisions of the County Court except appeals from the Magistrates Court can be appealed in the Supreme Court Appeals Division.
County Court judges
Name Date Appointed Chief Judge Michael Rozenes 25/11/2002 Judge Jim Duggan 12/12/1984 Judge Leo Hart 19/3/1985 Judge Michael Strong* 6/9/1988 Judge John Barnett 30/1/1990 Judge Roland Williams 10/2/1994 Judge Edward Campbell 7/6/1994 Judge David Morrow 7/6/1994 Judge Michael McInerney 21/6/1994 Judge Margaret Rizkalla 11/7/1994 Judge Thomas Wodak 16/8/1994 Judge Frank Shelton 5/9/1994 Judge Bill White 28/2/1995 Judge Marilyn Harbison 5/2/1996 Judge Tim Holt 7/10/1997 Judge Carolyn Douglas 7/10/1997 Judge Tim Wood 2/12/1997 Judge Ian Robertson 19/1/1998 Judge Graham Anderson 17/3/1998 Judge Lance Pilgrim 7/4/1999 Judge Pamela Jenkins 21/4/1999 Judge Jennifer Coate** 22/6/2000 Judge John Bowman 20/2/2001 Judge Rachelle Lewitan 16/5/2001 Judge Julie Nicholson 3/6/2001 Judge Graeme Hicks 20/8/2001 Judge John Smallwood 20/8/2001 Judge Susan Cohen 20/8/2001 Judge Meryl Sexton 20/8/2001 Judge Frances Hogan 2/10/2001 Judge Irene Lawson 26/3/2002 Judge Giuseppe Gullaci 4/6/2002 Judge Michael Bourke 10/9/2002 Judge Liz Gaynor 10/9/2002 Judge Phillip Coish 10/9/2002 Judge Ross Howie 22/10/2002 Judge Jane Campton 22/10/2002 Judge Roy Punshon 8/4/2003 Judge Wendy Wilmoth 8/4/2003 Judge Geoff Chettle 2/12/2003 Judge Frances Millane 2/12/2003 Judge Sandra Davis 26/10/2004 Judge Felicity Hampel 9/2/2005 Judge Jeanette Morrish 9/8/2005 Judge Julian Leckie 9/8/2005 Judge Paul Grant 26/4/2006 Judge David Parsons 22/8/2006 Judge Sue Pullen 22/8/2006 Judge Tony Howard 3/10/2006 Judge Lisa Hannan 3/10/2006 Judge Damian Murphy 24/10/2006 Judge Maree Kennedy 1/5/2007 Judge Chris O'Neill 24/7/2007 Judge Duncan Allen 21/8/2007 Judge Iain Ross 23/10/2007 Judge Philip Misso 11/12/2007 Judge Katherine Bourke 11/12/2007 Judge Jane Patrick 15/4/2008 Judge Peter Wischusen 15/4/2008 Judge Paul Lacava 27/5/2008 Judge Frank Gucciardo 27/5/2008 Judge Mark Taft 29/9/2008 - Judge Michael Strong is currently at the Office of Police Integrity.
- Judge Jennifer Coate is currently the Victorian Coroner.
Locations
The County Court of Victoria is located in the legal precinct of Melbourne's central business district, on the corner of William Street, and Lonsdale Street opposite the Supreme Court and Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
The County Court has its headquarters on the corner of William and Lonsdale Streets in Melbourne. The County Court building in Melbourne is owned by Challenger Financial Services. It also does circuits to the following locations:
- Bairnsdale
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Geelong
- Hamilton
- Horsham
- Mildura
- Morwell
- Sale
- Shepparton
- Wangaratta
- Warrnambool
- Wodonga
See also
External links
Coordinates: 37°48′51″S 144°57′25″E / 37.814047°S 144.956912°E
Categories:- Victoria (Australia) courts and tribunals
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