The District Court of Queensland (QDC) 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, again 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. The unreported judgments of the District Courts is published on the Queensland Judgments website.
Jurisdiction
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. 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. 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). These trials require a jury. District Court criminal decisions are published on the Queensland Judgments website.
Composition
Chief Judge of the District Court Name Date appointed Term in office Notes Chief Judge Brian G Devereaux SC
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. In Brisbane, the District Court shares the location with the Supreme Court.
, the judges who sat at the District Court, together with their location, were: Name Location Date appointed Term in office Comments Judge John Allen Brisbane Deputy President, Queensland Civil and Administrative TribunalJudge Ken Barlow Brisbane Judge Michael J. F. Burnett Rockhampton Judge Michael Byrne Brisbane Judge Glen Cash Maroochydore Judge Craig Chowdhury Beenleigh Judge Leanne Clare Brisbane Judge Jeffrey Clarke Rockhampton Judge John Coker Townsville Judge Geraldine Dann Southport Judge Ian Dearden Brisbane Justice Julie M. Dick Brisbane Judge William G. Everson Brisbane Judge Tracy Fantin Brisbane Judge Brad Farr Brisbane Judge Terry Gardiner Brisbane Also Chief Magistrate Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren Ipswich Judge Rowan Jackson Southport Judge Nathan Jarro Brisbane Judge Richard Jones Brisbane Judge Nicole Kefford Brisbane Judge David Kent Southport Judge Gary Long Maroochydore Judge Vicki Loury Brisbane Judge Dennis Lynch Ipswich Judge Gregory Lynham Townsville Judge Dean P. Morzone Cairns Judge Tony Moynihan Brisbane Judge Catherine Muir Southport Judge Katherine M. McGinness Southport Judge Bernard Porter Brisbane Judge Michael E. Rackemann Brisbane Judge Anthony J. Rafter Brisbane Judge David Reid Brisbane Judge Deborah Richards Brisbane Judge Orazio Rinaudo Brisbane Judge Jennifer Rosengren Brisbane Judge Suzanne C. Sheridan Brisbane Judge Paul E. Smith Brisbane Also Judge Administrator Judge Michael Williamson Brisbane
See also
Judiciary of Australia List of Queensland courts and tribunals
References