District Court of Queensland

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District Court of Queensland
Coat of Arms of Queensland.svg
Cairns Court House, 2015.jpg
Cairns Courthouse, a permanent location for the District Court
Established1866–1921; 1958
JurisdictionFlag of Queensland.svg  Queensland
Location Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law in Brisbane; Beenleigh; Cairns; Ipswich; Maroochydore; Rockhampton; Southport, Townsville
Composition method Vice-regal appointment upon nomination by the Premier following the advice of the Attorney-General and Cabinet
Authorised by Queensland Parliament via the: District Court Act 1967 (QLD)
Appeals to Supreme Court of Queensland
Appeals from Magistrates Court of Queensland
Judge term lengthmandatory retirement by age of 70
Number of positions39
Website www.courts.qld.gov.au
Chief Judge
CurrentlyBrian Devereaux SC
Since17 August 2020 (2020-08-17)

The District Court of Queensland(QDC) is the second tier in the court hierarchy of Queensland, Australia. [1] The Court deals with serious criminal offences such as rape, armed robbery and fraud. Juries are used to decide if defendants are guilty or not guilty.

Contents

The original court was established in 1866 to ease the workload of the Supreme Court of Queensland. However, in 1921 the Queensland Parliament decided District Courts were no longer necessary and the courts were abolished. They were re-established by Parliament in 1958, again to relieve the workload in the Supreme Court. The present court is constituted under the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (Qld). [2] That Act amalgamated the previous District Court in existence prior to 1967 into the new District Court.

The District Court sits in 32 locations across Queensland. Judges also travel throughout the state to hear matters in regional and remote areas.

Decisions made by the District Court may be heard on appeal to the Supreme Court; and the District Court may sit as an appellate court for decisions made in the Magistrates Court of Queensland. [1] The unreported judgments of the District Courts is published on the Queensland Judgments website.

Jurisdiction

Civil

The District Court has jurisdiction to hear civil matters for which the amount in dispute is less than or equal to $750,000, and more than $150,000. [1] Civil disputes in which the amount in dispute is more than $750,000 are heard by the Supreme Court, while those in which the amount is $150,000 or less are heard by either the Magistrates Court or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. [1] District Court civil decisions are published on the Queensland Judgments website.

Criminal

The District Court has the jurisdiction to hear criminal matters in which the defendant has been charged with a serious indictable offence (such as armed robbery, rape, and dangerous driving). [1] These trials require a jury. District Court criminal decisions are published on the Queensland Judgments website.

Composition

Chief Judge of the District Court

NameDate appointedTerm in officeNotes
Chief Judge Brian G Devereaux SC17 August 20204 years, 269 days [3]

Judges of the District Court

The District Court operates permanent courts in Brisbane, located in the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law building on George Street, Brisbane CBD; and Cairns, Ipswich, Maroochydore, Rockhampton, Southport, Townsville, and sits in regional areas as required. [1] [4] In Brisbane, the District Court shares the location with the Supreme Court.

As of April 2021, the judges who sat at the District Court, together with their location, were: [3]

NameLocationDate appointedTerm in officeComments
Judge John Allen QC Brisbane17 December 20186 years, 147 daysDeputy President, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Judge Ken Barlow QC Brisbane18 June 20195 years, 329 days
Judge Michael J. F. BurnettRockhampton3 November 201410 years, 191 days
Judge Michael Byrne QC Brisbane20 January 20205 years, 113 days
Judge Glen Cash QC Maroochydore2 July 20186 years, 315 days
Judge Craig ChowdhuryBeenleigh13 May 20169 years, 0 days
Judge Leanne Clare SC Brisbane2 April 200817 years, 41 days
Judge Jeffrey ClarkeRockhampton31 August 20204 years, 255 days
Judge John CokerTownsville8 March 20187 years, 66 days
Judge Geraldine DannSouthport7 September 20204 years, 248 days
Judge Ian DeardenBrisbane28 February 200520 years, 74 days
Justice Julie M. Dick SC Brisbane14 December 200024 years, 150 days
Judge William G. EversonBrisbane2 April 200817 years, 41 days
Judge Tracy Fantin QC Brisbane16 October 20177 years, 209 days
Judge Brad Farr SC Brisbane11 August 201113 years, 275 days
Judge Terry GardinerBrisbane8 July 20195 years, 309 daysAlso Chief Magistrate
Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC Ipswich20 October 201212 years, 205 days
Judge Rowan Jackson QC Southport31 August 20204 years, 255 days
Judge Nathan Jarro Brisbane26 March 20187 years, 48 days
Judge Richard JonesBrisbane19 February 201015 years, 83 days
Judge Nicole KeffordBrisbane14 November 20168 years, 180 days
Judge David Kent QC Southport7 March 20169 years, 67 days
Judge Gary Long SC Maroochydore13 May 201114 years, 0 days
Judge Vicki Loury QC Brisbane17 December 20186 years, 147 days
Judge Dennis Lynch QC Ipswich2 December 20168 years, 162 days
Judge Gregory LynhamTownsville24 April 20178 years, 19 days
Judge Dean P. Morzone QC Cairns27 October 201410 years, 198 days
Judge Tony Moynihan QC Brisbane25 June 20159 years, 322 days
Judge Catherine MuirSouthport14 November 201628 years, 246 days
Judge Katherine M. McGinnessSouthport17 July 20098 years, 180 days
Judge Bernard Porter QC Brisbane28 August 20177 years, 258 days
Judge Michael E. Rackemann SC Brisbane12 January 200421 years, 121 days
Judge Anthony J. Rafter SC Brisbane15 December 200618 years, 149 days
Judge David ReidBrisbane19 February 201015 years, 83 days
Judge Deborah RichardsBrisbane26 November 199826 years, 168 days
Judge Orazio RinaudoBrisbane8 July 201410 years, 309 days
Judge Jennifer RosengrenBrisbane11 September 20177 years, 244 days
Judge Suzanne C. SheridanBrisbane24 November 201410 years, 170 days
Judge Paul E. SmithBrisbane8 March 201312 years, 66 daysAlso Judge Administrator
Judge Michael Williamson QC Brisbane19 March 20187 years, 55 days

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The District Court of Queensland" (PDF). Department of Justice and Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  2. ↑ District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (Qld)
  3. 1 2 "Judges of the District Court contacts". Department of Justice and Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Courthouses contacts". Department of Justice ad Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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