Magistrates Court Of The Australian Capital Territory

The Magistrates Court operates under the Magistrates Court Act 1930 and hears both civil and criminal matters. Civil claims up to $250, 000 are heard in the Magistrates Court. ACT offences which carry a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and Commonwealth offences with a maximum penalty of less than one year must be heard by Magistrates. These types of offences are referred to as summary offences. Offences with higher penalties than summary offences are referred to as indictable offences. Some indictable offences may be heard in either the Magistrates Court or the Supreme Court while more serious offences such as murder and serious drug offences must be heard in the Supreme Court. Before an indictable matter is referred to the Supreme Court for trial, a Magistrate is required to assess the evidence of the prosecution to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to require the defendant to face trial in the Supreme Court. The Magistrates Court is located adjacent to the Supreme Court. There is a Chief Magistrate, eight Magistrates and two Special Magistrates. The Magistrates have Associates who assist them in their work.
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Keywords: administration of justice

The Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory is a court of summary jurisdiction that deals with the majority of less serious criminal law matters and the majority of small civil law matters in the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory. The current Chief Magistrate is Lorraine Walker, appointed with effect from 13 October 2013. Seven magistrates assist the Chief Magistrate in hearing matters before the Court. The court is located on Knowles Place near London Circuit at Civic, in Canberra, the capital city of Australia; in a special purpose building that was opened in 1996, having previously occupied the older building next door to it which is now occupied by the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. JurisdictionThe jurisdiction of the ACT Magistrates Court encompasses the entirety of the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory. Under the Jervis Bay Acceptance Act 1915 (Cth), the laws of the Australian Capital Territory apply in that particular area. Magistrates from the ACT travel to Jervis Bay Village on a regular basis to hold court for the region. The ACT Magistrates Court is established under, and has jurisdiction under, the Magistrates Court Act 1930 (ACT). It has a summary jurisdiction to deal with most criminal offences other than serious criminal matters such as murder and sexual assaults.