Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Court of Summary Jurisdiction

The Court of Summary Jurisdiction is a court in the Northern Territory of Australia. It has jurisdiction to deal with criminal offences which occur in the territory. It is one of the courts that is usually referred to as the Magistrates Court of the Northern Territory.

Contents

History

The court was established under the Justices Act (NT) in 1974 [1] and replaced the Courts of Petty Sessions commonly established in Australia since British settlement in 1788 to deal with less serious crime. Those courts followed the English tradition of justices of the peace sitting in and out of sessions in England.

Constitution

The court can be constituted by a stipendiary magistrate or two justices of the peace. In some situations, a single justice of the peace can hear a case if the maximum fine that can be imposed is no more than A$100 and the prosecution and the accused agree to the case being heard in this matter. Stipendiary magistrates are appointed by the Administrator of the Northern Territory under the Magistrates Act (NT).

Commencement of cases

Criminal cases are commenced by way of complaint [2], although prior to 1992 they were commenced by way of information. A complaint is made to a justice of the peace. The complaint can be in writing or it can be made orally. Generally, a complaint must be made within six months of the crime occurring [3].

The justice of the peace can issue a summons directing the offender to attend court or can issue a warrant for his or her arrest [4].

The hearing

Following an offender’s arrest or appearance at court, the offender is given an opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty. If there is a guilty plea, the court can sentence the person straight away or may adjourn the case to another day. If there is a not guilty plea, the case is usually adjourned to another day so that witnesses can be subpoenaed to attend and give evidence.

The presiding magistrate sits as judge and jury and determines all issues of fact and all questions of law. In serious cases, the magistrate may commit the offender to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory to stand trial. In less serious cases, the magistrate can punish the offender directly.

Punishment

The court has a range of options to punish offenders who plead or are found guilty. The court may simply fine the offender or in more serious situations, the court may imprison the offender.

References

  1. ^ Justices Ordinance 1974 (NT)
  2. ^ section 49
  3. ^ section 52
  4. ^ sections 57 & 58

Sources

v · d · eGovernment of the Northern Territory
Executive Flag of the Northern Territory
Legislative
Judicial

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Court of Summary Jurisdiction — noun 1. (formerly in some Australian states) the official name of a lower level court exercising criminal jurisdiction over summary offences. 2. (in the NT) a division of the NT Magistrates Court dealing with criminal matters. Compare Local Court …  

  • court of summary jurisdiction — noun a lower level court exercising criminal jurisdiction over summary offences …  

  • court of summary jurisdiction — noun Brit. a court, especially a magistrate s court, that tries summary offences without a jury …   English new terms dictionary

  • Summary jurisdiction — Summary jurisdiction, in the widest sense of the phrase, in English law includes the power asserted by courts of record to deal brevi manu with contempts of court without the intervention of a jury. Probably the power was originally exercisable… …   Wikipedia

  • summary jurisdiction — ▪ law       in Anglo American law, jurisdiction of a magistrate or judge to conduct proceedings resulting in a conviction or order without trial by jury. Summary jurisdiction is almost entirely a creation of statute. In the United States, despite …   Universalium

  • summary jurisdiction — A jurisdiction exercised by summary proceedings, as in a bankruptcy court. 9 Am J2d Bankr § 68 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • summary jurisdiction — /sʌməri dʒurəsˈdɪkʃən/ (say sumuhree joohruhs dikshuhn) noun Law the jurisdiction, exercised by a court at the lower level in a justice system, as a magistrates court, to try persons accused of minor criminal offences without a jury …  

  • summary jurisdiction — The jurisdiction of a court to give a judgment or make an order itself forthwith; e.g., to commit to prison for contempt. In the case of justices of the peace, a jurisdiction to convict an offender themselves instead of committing him for trial… …   Black's law dictionary

  • summary jurisdiction — noun Law the authority of a court to use summary proceedings and arrive at a judgement …   English new terms dictionary

  • summary jurisdiction — noun : the authority or power of a court to use a summary procedure …   Useful english dictionary

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