Magistrates Court of the Northern Territory
Encyclopedia
The Northern Territory Magistrates Courts is the generic name given to the lower courts constituted by magistrates and justices of the peace in the Northern Territory
, a territory of Australia
. There is no actual magistrates court, and the reference to the court is usually a reference to the building. The magistrates court are the first tier in the Northern Territorian court system. The Magistrates also have jurisdiction to hear matters in a number of other courts, such as the Juvenile Court, the Family Matters Court, Local Court, Small Claims Court and the Work Health Court.
may appoint stipendiary magistrates under the Magistrates Act (NT). The administrator may also appoint a Chief Stipendiary Magistrate and Deputy Chief Stipendiary Magistrates. A stipendiary magistrate receives payment by way of a salary for performing those duties.
Justices of the Peace may specifically sit as the Court of Summary Jurisdiction. In certain cases, there must two justices sitting together. In other cases, a justice can sit alone. Justices are an honorary appointment, and so are not paid for their service to the courts.
. The court is established under the Justices Act (NT). These are the less serious criminal cases. In certain cases, a single justice of the peace may deal with a criminal matter if both the prosecution and the defendant agree. In serious cases (eg. Murder), the court must commit the person for trial to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
.
The Local Court of the Northern Territory deals with civil cases. It is established under the Local Courts Act (NT). It can hear debt and damage claims up to a maximum of $100,000. Amounts under $10,000 are heard in the Small Claim Division of the court. The local court has the power to grant adoptions and determine appeals against decisions of certain statutory officers. A magistrate constitutes this court.
The Youth Justice Court
is established by the Youth Justice Act (NT). It hears charges against young offenders. A Youth is a person who is under the age of 18 at the time of being charged or appearing before the court
The Community Court of the Northern Territory aims to achieve community involvement in the sentencing process and to broaden the sentencing process .
The Family Matters Court of the Northern Territory is established under the Community Welfare Act (NT). It makes orders in respect of the welfare or guardianship of children considered to be in need of care. The court is constituted by a Magistrate.
The Work Health Court of the Northern Territory deals with workers' compensation
claims. Each Magistrate constitutes the court, and in certain circumstances, a judicial registrar or a registrar may also constitute the court.
The Alcohol Court of the Northern Territory deals with alcohol dependency that leads to crime to reduce the incidence of crime, help to rehabilitate offenders, and improve health and social amenity.
Magistrates also hold the office of the Coroner. The administrator may also appoint a Territory Coroner under the Coroners Act (NT). Coroners hold inquests into deaths.
Stipendiary Magistrates located at Darwin are:
Stipendiary Magistrates located at Alice Springs
Stipendiary Magistrates located at Katherine
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, a territory of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. There is no actual magistrates court, and the reference to the court is usually a reference to the building. The magistrates court are the first tier in the Northern Territorian court system. The Magistrates also have jurisdiction to hear matters in a number of other courts, such as the Juvenile Court, the Family Matters Court, Local Court, Small Claims Court and the Work Health Court.
Constitution
Magistrates courts can be constituted by a Stipendiary Magistrate or by justices of the peace. The Administrator of the Northern TerritoryAdministrator of the Northern Territory
The Administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the Governor-General of Australia to exercise powers analogous to that of a state governor...
may appoint stipendiary magistrates under the Magistrates Act (NT). The administrator may also appoint a Chief Stipendiary Magistrate and Deputy Chief Stipendiary Magistrates. A stipendiary magistrate receives payment by way of a salary for performing those duties.
Justices of the Peace may specifically sit as the Court of Summary Jurisdiction. In certain cases, there must two justices sitting together. In other cases, a justice can sit alone. Justices are an honorary appointment, and so are not paid for their service to the courts.
Types of magistrates courts
Criminal cases are dealt with by the Court of Summary Jurisdiction of the Northern TerritoryCourt of Summary Jurisdiction
The Court of Summary Jurisdiction is a court in the Northern Territory of Australia. It has jurisdiction to deal with criminal offences which occur in the territory...
. The court is established under the Justices Act (NT). These are the less serious criminal cases. In certain cases, a single justice of the peace may deal with a criminal matter if both the prosecution and the defendant agree. In serious cases (eg. Murder), the court must commit the person for trial to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the superior court for the Australian Territory of the Northern Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters...
.
The Local Court of the Northern Territory deals with civil cases. It is established under the Local Courts Act (NT). It can hear debt and damage claims up to a maximum of $100,000. Amounts under $10,000 are heard in the Small Claim Division of the court. The local court has the power to grant adoptions and determine appeals against decisions of certain statutory officers. A magistrate constitutes this court.
The Youth Justice Court
Youth Justice Court
The Youth Justice Court of the Northern Territory is an Australian court which hears and determines cases concerning crimes committed by children under the age of 18 years in the Northern Territory.-Colonial times:...
is established by the Youth Justice Act (NT). It hears charges against young offenders. A Youth is a person who is under the age of 18 at the time of being charged or appearing before the court
The Community Court of the Northern Territory aims to achieve community involvement in the sentencing process and to broaden the sentencing process .
The Family Matters Court of the Northern Territory is established under the Community Welfare Act (NT). It makes orders in respect of the welfare or guardianship of children considered to be in need of care. The court is constituted by a Magistrate.
The Work Health Court of the Northern Territory deals with workers' compensation
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence...
claims. Each Magistrate constitutes the court, and in certain circumstances, a judicial registrar or a registrar may also constitute the court.
The Alcohol Court of the Northern Territory deals with alcohol dependency that leads to crime to reduce the incidence of crime, help to rehabilitate offenders, and improve health and social amenity.
Magistrates also hold the office of the Coroner. The administrator may also appoint a Territory Coroner under the Coroners Act (NT). Coroners hold inquests into deaths.
Magistrates' Court of the Northern Territory locations
- DarwinDarwin, Northern TerritoryDarwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
- Alice Springs
- KatherineKatherine, Northern TerritoryKatherine is a town situated southeast of Darwin in the "Top End" of Australia in the Northern Territory. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory after the capital Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs...
Current magistrates
The current Chief Magistrate is Hillary Hannam.Stipendiary Magistrates located at Darwin are:
- Dr John Lowndes SM
- Mr Daynor Trigg SM
- Mr Richard Wallace SM
- Mr Greg Cavanagh SM
- Mr Michael Carey SM
- Ms Elizabeth Morris SM
- Ms Sue Oliver SM
- Ms Tanya Fong Lim SM
Stipendiary Magistrates located at Alice Springs
- Mr John Birch SM
- Mr John Neil SM
- Mr David Bamber SM
- Mr Greg Borchers SM
Stipendiary Magistrates located at Katherine
- Mr Greg Smith SM