Supreme Court of Western Australia
| Supreme Court of Western Australia | |
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Façade of the Supreme Court of Western Australia
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| Established | 1861 |
| Location | Perth |
| Coordinates | 31°57′27″S 115°51′36″E / 31.95754°S 115.859879°ECoordinates: 31°57′27″S 115°51′36″E / 31.95754°S 115.859879°E |
| Composition method | Governor appointed by the recommendation of Cabinet. |
| Authorized by | Parliament of Western Australia via the Constitution Act 1889 (WA) and the Supreme Court Act 1935 (WA) |
| Decisions are appealed to | High Court of Australia |
| Judge term length | mandatory retirement by age of 70 |
| Number of positions | As many as necessary to deal with workload; currently 21 judges |
| Website | www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au |
| Chief Justice of Western Australia | |
| Currently | Justice Wayne Martin |
| Since | 1 May 2006 |
The Supreme Court of Western Australia is the highest state court in the Australian State of Western Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters (although it usually only hears matters involving sums of A$750,000 or more), and hears the most serious criminal matters.
The Supreme Court consists of a General Division (equivalent to the Trial Division in other states) and the Court of Appeal.
The General Division deals with serious criminal matters, civil cases where the amount claimed is greater than $750,000, criminal appeals from the Magistrates Court and appeals from other bodies such as the State Administrative Tribunal. The General Division sits in the David Malcolm Justice Centre for civil proceedings and the District Court of WA Building and the original Supreme Court Building for criminal proceedings.
The Court of Appeal hears both civil and criminal appeals from cases in the General Division, the District Court and the State Administrative Tribunal. It sits in the original Supreme Court Building.
When required, Supreme Court judges may also constitute the Industrial Appeal Court and sit as a Court of Disputed Returns.
The current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the Hon. Wayne Martin AC who was formally appointed to the position on 4 April 2006. Martin was appointed after a lengthy selection process which followed the retirement of David Malcolm on 7 February. Martin had been one of Western Australia's leading QC's before his appointment.
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