District Court of Queensland

District Court of Queensland
Cairns Courthouse, a permanent location for the District Court
Established	1866–1921; 1958
Jurisdiction	Queensland, Australia
Location	Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law in Brisbane; Beenleigh; Cairns; Ipswich; Maroochydore; Rockhampton; Southport, Townsville
Authorized by	Queensland Parliament via the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (Qld)
Decisions are appealed to	Supreme Court of Queensland
Decisions are heard for appeals from	Magistrates Court of Queensland
Chief Judge
Currently	Kerry J. O'Brien
Since	20 October 2014 (2014-10-20)

Queensland Court Hierarchy

Federal Law Courts High Court of Australia Federal Court of Australia

Queensland Law Courts Supreme Court of Queensland Court of Appeal Trial Division Court of Disputed Returns District Court of Queensland Planning and Environment Court Children's Court of Queensland Coroners Court of Queensland Land Court Industrial Court of Queensland Magistrates Court of Queensland

The District Court of Queensland is the second tier in the court hierarchy of Queensland, Australia. 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.

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 to relieve the workload in the Supreme Court. 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.

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.

Queensland Court Hierarchy

Federal Law Courts

Queensland Law Courts

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. 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.

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). These trials require a jury.

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. In Brisbane, the District Court shares the location with the Supreme Court.