ACR102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Selective Enforcement, Disclose, Electric Charge
ACR102 – Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice
Week 3
Victorian Criminal Court Hierarchy
Victorian Magistrates Court
The Victorian County Court
65 judges of the county
court (incl. the Chief Justice)
Hears and determines all indictable offences except murder, manslaughter and treason.
Types of offences heard:
Sexual assault, serious assault, drug trafficking, culpable driving, intentionally or recklessly
causing injury.
Hears appeals from the Magistrates Court
Also hears civil matters – Workcover, medical negligence, building disputes
Victorian Supreme Court
31 judges of the trial division
11 Court of Appeal judges
1 justice per trial,
3 justices per appeal.
Hears and determines all cases that by law cannot be heard in lower jurisdictions.
Types of offences heard:
serious sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, treason, terrorism offences.
Hears appeals from the County Court and the Supreme Court
High Court of Australia
Highest court in the Australian justice system
7 current Justices of the High Court
Function is to interpret and apply the law of Australia
Hears cases of Federal significance, including constitutional challenges.
Hears appeals (only where granted by special leave) from Federal, Territory and State
courts.
Function of the Criminal Courts
Higher courts (County and Supreme) hear indictable offences (more serious offences
incorporating the right to trial by jury)
Criminal courts must determine:
If the the person charged is guilty;
If so, what is the appropriate punishment for the offence?
In making a judgment of guilty, generally there are two elements that must be met:
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Document Summary
65 judges of the county court (incl. the chief justice) Hears and determines all indictable offences except murder, manslaughter and treason. Sexual assault, serious assault, drug trafficking, culpable driving, intentionally or recklessly causing injury. Also hears civil matters workcover, medical negligence, building disputes. Hears and determines all cases that by law cannot be heard in lower jurisdictions. Types of offences heard: serious sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, treason, terrorism offences. Hears appeals from the county court and the supreme court. Function is to interpret and apply the law of australia. Hears cases of federal significance, including constitutional challenges. Hears appeals (only where granted by special leave) from federal, territory and state courts. Higher courts (county and supreme) hear indictable offences (more serious offences incorporating the right to trial by jury) In making a judgment of guilty, generally there are two elements that must be met: A fair trial requires a defendant to be legally represented.
