County Court of Victoria

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.

Since 8 September 2015, the Chief Judge of the County Court is His Honour Chief Judge Peter Kidd, a former Senior Crown Prosecutor.

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 were established in 1846. Originally, the Court's principal purpose was to handle small civil claims, but this role evolved (with the partnering of the Court of General Sessions in 1968) into both civil and criminal jurisdiction. Since that time, the Court's jurisdiction has increased considerably.

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.

The County Court has original jurisdiction in all civil matters. Cases heard in this jurisdiction include commercial matters, building disputes and damages arising from a wide range of incidents including medical negligence, serious injury and defamation. The Court is also able to hear Workcover matters.

The Court's civil jurisdiction also covers actions where jurisdiction is specifically conferred on the County Court by statute:

|- ! Name ! Date Appointed (D/M/Y) |- | Chief Judge Peter Kidd | 8/09/2015 |- | 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 |}

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