District Court of Queensland

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.

District Court of Queensland
Cairns Courthouse, a permanent location for the District Court
Established1866–1921; 1958
Jurisdiction Queensland
LocationQueen Elizabeth II Courts of Law in Brisbane; Beenleigh; Cairns; Ipswich; Maroochydore; Rockhampton; Southport, Townsville
Composition methodVice-regal appointment upon nomination by the Premier following the advice of the Attorney-General and Cabinet
Authorized byQueensland Parliament via the: District Court Act 1967 (QLD)
Appeals toSupreme Court of Queensland
Appeals fromMagistrates Court of Queensland
Judge term lengthmandatory retirement by age of 70
Number of positions39
Websitewww.courts.qld.gov.au
Chief Judge
CurrentlyBrian Devereaux SC
Since17 August 2020 (2020-08-17)

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
Queensland Court Hierarchy
Federal Law Courts
Queensland Law Courts
Tribunals

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 SC 17 August 2020 (2020-08-17) 3 years, 67 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 QCBrisbane17 December 2018 (2018-12-17)4 years, 310 daysDeputy President, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Judge Ken Barlow QCBrisbane18 June 2019 (2019-06-18)4 years, 127 days
Judge Michael J. F. BurnettRockhampton3 November 2014 (2014-11-03)8 years, 354 days
Judge Michael Byrne QCBrisbane20 January 2020 (2020-01-20)3 years, 276 days
Judge Glen Cash QCMaroochydore2 July 2018 (2018-07-02)5 years, 113 days
Judge Craig ChowdhuryBeenleigh13 May 2016 (2016-05-13)7 years, 163 days
Judge Leanne Clare SCBrisbane2 April 2008 (2008-04-02)15 years, 204 days
Judge Jeffrey ClarkeRockhampton31 August 2020 (2020-08-31)3 years, 53 days
Judge John CokerTownsville8 March 2018 (2018-03-08)5 years, 229 days
Judge Geraldine DannSouthport7 September 2020 (2020-09-07)3 years, 46 days
Judge Ian DeardenBrisbane28 February 2005 (2005-02-28)18 years, 237 days
Justice Julie M. Dick SCBrisbane14 December 2000 (2000-12-14)22 years, 313 days
Judge William G. EversonBrisbane2 April 2008 (2008-04-02)15 years, 204 days
Judge Tracy Fantin QCBrisbane16 October 2017 (2017-10-16)6 years, 7 days
Judge Brad Farr SCBrisbane11 August 2011 (2011-08-11)12 years, 73 days
Judge Terry GardinerBrisbane8 July 2019 (2019-07-08)4 years, 107 daysAlso Chief Magistrate
Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SCIpswich20 October 2012 (2012-10-20)11 years, 3 days
Judge Rowan Jackson QCSouthport31 August 2020 (2020-08-31)3 years, 53 days
Judge Nathan JarroBrisbane26 March 2018 (2018-03-26)5 years, 211 days
Judge Richard JonesBrisbane19 February 2010 (2010-02-19)13 years, 246 days
Judge Nicole KeffordBrisbane14 November 2016 (2016-11-14)6 years, 343 days
Judge David Kent QCSouthport7 March 2016 (2016-03-07)7 years, 230 days
Judge Gary Long SCMaroochydore13 May 2011 (2011-05-13)12 years, 163 days
Judge Vicki Loury QCBrisbane17 December 2018 (2018-12-17)4 years, 310 days
Judge Dennis Lynch QCIpswich2 December 2016 (2016-12-02)6 years, 325 days
Judge Gregory LynhamTownsville24 April 2017 (2017-04-24)6 years, 182 days
Judge Dean P. Morzone QCCairns27 October 2014 (2014-10-27)8 years, 361 days
Judge Tony Moynihan QCBrisbane25 June 2015 (2015-06-25)8 years, 120 days
Judge Catherine MuirSouthport14 November 2016 (2016-11-14)27 years, 44 days
Judge Katherine M. McGinnessSouthport17 July 2009 (2009-07-17)6 years, 343 days
Judge Bernard Porter QCBrisbane28 August 2017 (2017-08-28)6 years, 56 days
Judge Michael E. Rackemann SCBrisbane12 January 2004 (2004-01-12)19 years, 284 days
Judge Anthony J. Rafter SCBrisbane15 December 2006 (2006-12-15)16 years, 312 days
Judge David ReidBrisbane19 February 2010 (2010-02-19)13 years, 246 days
Judge Deborah RichardsBrisbane26 November 1998 (1998-11-26)24 years, 331 days
Judge Orazio RinaudoBrisbane8 July 2014 (2014-07-08)9 years, 107 days
Judge Jennifer RosengrenBrisbane11 September 2017 (2017-09-11)6 years, 42 days
Judge Suzanne C. SheridanBrisbane24 November 2014 (2014-11-24)8 years, 333 days
Judge Paul E. SmithBrisbane8 March 2013 (2013-03-08)10 years, 229 daysAlso Judge Administrator
Judge Michael Williamson QCBrisbane19 March 2018 (2018-03-19)5 years, 218 days

See also

References
  1. "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. "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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.