- District Court of Queensland
-
Federal Law Courts
Queensland Law Courts
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- District Court of Queensland
- Magistrates' Court of Queensland
The District Court of Queensland is a court in Queensland, a state of Australia. It has jurisdiction to hear:
- appeals from decisions of the Magistrates' Court of Queensland;
- serious criminal matters of an indictable nature including armed robbery, rape and dangerous driving; and
- civil matters for claims between $150,000 and $750,000[1].
The Court has judges permanently appointed in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Cairns, Southport, Ipswich, Beenleigh and Maroochydore and regularly sits in other regional centres.
Contents
History
The original court was established in 1866 to ease the Supreme Court workload. However, in 1921 the Queensland Parliament decided District Courts were no longer necessary and the courts were abolished. They were re-established in 1958 to relieve the workload in the Supreme Court of Queensland.
The present court is constituted under the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (Qld). That act amalgamated the previous District Court in existence prior to 1967 into the new District Court.
Composition
The Governor of Queensland may appoint a chief judge of the court. The governor may also appoint judges to the court. The appointment is by way of the issuing of a commission under the great seal of the state.
The court is headed by Chief Judge Patricia Mary Wolfe.
The current judges of the court are:
Brisbane
- Judge N.A. Skoien (Senior Judge) - 1982
- Judge G. Trafford-Walker (Senior Judge) - 1983
- Judge W. Howell - 27 July 1984
- Judge G.S. Forno, Q.C. - 19 February 1988
- Judge H. Botting - 3 May 1989
- Judge M.J. Noud - 17 July 1989
- Judge K.J O'Brien - 27 October 1989
- Judge N.F. McLauchlan, Q.C.
- Judge P.D. Robin, Q.C. - 1 May 1990
- Judge H. O'Sullivan - 1991
- Judge P.G. Nase - 12 August 1993
- Judge M.W. Forde - 25 January 1995
- Judge C.J.L. Brabazon, Q.C - November 1995
- Judge D.J. McGill, S.C. - 9 September 1996
- Judge N. Samios - 21 August 1998
- Judge M.J. Shanahan
- Judge J. M. Dick, S.C. - 14 December 2000
- Judge A.M. Wilson S.C. - 24 May 2001
- Judge W. Tutt - 24 May 2004
- Judge M. Griffin - 29 October 2004
- Judge Ryrie - 28 February 2005
- Judge T Rafter - 15 December 2006
- Judge Terry Martin SC - 12 July 2007
- Judge David Searles - 12 July 2007
Townsville
- Judge R.D Pack - 18 December 1997
- Judge Durward SC - 21 August 2006
Rockhampton
- Judge G. Britton S.C. - 26 November 1998
Southport
- Judge J.E. Newton - 25 February 1991
- Judge C.F Wall Q.C - 11 September 1996
- Judge M. E. Rackemann - 12 January 2004
- Judge F Kingham -17 July 2006
Cairns
- Judge P.J. White - 28 August 1992
- Judge S.Bradley - 25 March 1999
Maroochydore
- Judge K.S. Dodds - 14 March 1986
- Judge J.M. Robertson - 24 September 1994
Ipswich
- Judge D. Richards - 1 December 1998
- Judge G. Koppenol - 12 September 2007
Beenleigh
- Judge I. Dearden - 28 February 2005
The governor may also appoint judicial registrars and registrars for the court. They are officers of the court and do not constitute the court.
Caseload
The District Court hears more than 8000 criminal and 1500 civil cases each year.
General
The District Court is open to members of the public and the media. However, as with the Magistrates Court, access to the hearing and media reporting of the case may be restricted if, for example, a defendant is under 17 years of age.
References
- Homepage of the Court - http://www.courts.qld.gov.au
- Judges of the Court - http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/1409.htm
- District Court of Queensland Act 1967 - http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/dcoqa1967308/
- ^ District Court: Queensland Courts - http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/121.htm
Government of Queensland Executive 
Legislative Parliament • Legislative Assembly • Electoral districts • MLAs • Speaker of the Legislative Assembly • Opposition LeaderJudicial Categories:- Queensland courts and tribunals
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