Magistrates' Court of Queensland

Magistrates Court of Queensland
The Brisbane Magistrates Court building, a location of the Magistrates Court
Jurisdiction	Queensland, Australia
Authorized by	Queensland Parliament via the Magistrates Courts Act 1921 (Qld)
Decisions are appealed to	District Court of Queensland
Website	www.courts.qld.gov.au
Chief Magistrate of Queensland
Currently	Judge Orazio "Ray" Rinaudo
Since	8 July 2015 (2015-07-08)

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

Queensland Court Hierarchy

Federal Law Courts

Queensland Law Courts

The Magistrates Court of Queensland is the lowest court in the court hierarchy of Queensland, Australia. All criminal proceedings in Queensland begin in the Magistrates Court, with minor offences being dealt with summarily, and more serious ones being referred to a higher court on the strength of evidence. Most criminal cases are first heard in the Magistrates Courts, as are most civil cases. The Magistrates Court hear approximately 95% of all court cases in Queensland.

Decisions made by the Magistrates Court may be heard on appeal to the District Court of Queensland. The Magistrates Court does not have an appellate jurisdiction.

The Chief Magistrate of Queensland, since 2015, is Judge Ray Rinaudo.

The Magistrates Court has the jurisdiction to decide on civil matters for which the amount in dispute is less than or equal to A$150,000. Civil matters in which the amount in dispute is more than $150,000 are decided by either the District Court or the Supreme Court.

The Magistrates Court has the jurisdiction to decide on charges of summary offences, and indictable offence which may be heard summarily.

The Magistrates Court also conducts committal hearings in which the presiding magistrate decides, based on the strength of the evidence, whether to refer the matter to a higher court.

Those present at court typically include the magistrate, police prosecutor, defendant, plaintiff and witnesses for either party. It is a condition that those who enter the court bow to the Queensland Coat of Arms, situated behind the Bench, upon entry. Plaintiffs, defendants, their counsel and witnesses must rise when they wish to address the bench or when addressed by the magistrate.