The+Court+Structure

= The court structure = === An important point for students to note is that the NSW Court system is hierarchical and therefore provides opportunities for appeal. Further, most criminal cases (both summary and indictable) begin in the Local Court which deals with the vast majority of criminal cases in NSW. Students should understand that the majority of criminal prosecutions in NSW each year are for summary offences and less serious indictable matters, which, on election, can be dealt with in the Local Court. Students should also remember that (and depending on what the specific HSC question actually asks) a flow chart can be an effective way to demonstrate an understanding of the NSW Court structure. Students should know the role of each Court and where it fits into the hierarchy. ===

**Local Court**:

 * === most criminal cases begin here (all in fact except ex-officio indictments) ===
 * === presided over by magistrate (no jury) ===
 * === deals with summary matters and less serious indictable matters ===
 * === no appellate jurisdiction ===
 * === also hears committal proceedings regarding serious matters to determine whether a prima facie case exists (is there ‘on first instance’ sufficient evidence for the matter to be heard by a Judge and jury) ===

**Children’s Court**:
> === (There are some exceptions to this e.g. some cases of aggravated sexual assault and homicide are heard in the Supreme Court) ===
 * === deals with offenders under 18 yrs or under 21 years if they were less than 18 years old when charged ===
 * === is a closed court ===
 * === presided over by Magistrate (no jury) ===
 * === rehabilitation is the primary purpose of sentencing ===

**Coroners Court**:
> === (e.g. determines the identity of the deceased and the date, place, manner and medical cause of death of the deceased) ===
 * === presided over by coroner ===
 * === coroner ensures all deaths, suspected deaths, fires and explosions which come under the his/her jurisdiction are properly investigated and concluded ===
 * === refers cases to a higher court for trial if deems there is sufficient evidence of a criminal act ===
 * === inquisitorial approach ===

**District Court**:

 * === has appellate jurisdiction from Local Court – (The ‘Appellate Division’ of the District Court can hear appeals on two grounds - "not guilty" or "severity" The Local Court sentence may be varied or set aside, or the District Court may dismiss the appeal.) ===
 * === presided over by a judge ===
 * === trial by jury or judge along ===
 * === deals with most serious criminal offences (e.g. armed robbery) - can deal with all serious offences except murder, treason and piracy ===

**Supreme Court**:

 * === has appellate jurisdiction from District Court and Local Court (stated case, error of law by magistrate) ===
 * === highest court in NSW (deals with most serious criminal offences e.g. murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, major conspiracy and drug related charges) ===
 * === hears bail applications in relation to cases in this or other courts ===
 * === presided over by judge ===
 * === trial by jury or by judge alone ===

**Court of Criminal Appeal**:

 * === has appellate jurisdiction from District Court and Supreme Court, is highest criminal appeal Court in NSW. (Grounds for appeal include challenging a conviction involving a question of law, questions of fact, mixed questions of fact and law and regarding sentence severity or adequacy) ===

**High Court**:

 * === highest appeal court in Australia (criminal and civil matters) ===
 * === necessary for leave to be granted for appeal to be heard ===
 * === leave usually reserved in criminal matters for: ===
 * === existing areas of the law which require clarification (e.g. R v Zecevic → High Court decision which clarified the law regarding self defence and precisely what had to be proved by the defence to establish self defence) ===
 * === interpreting new areas of the law- keeping in mind that the service of justice is an overriding factor ===
 * === responsible for interpreting the Australian Constitution ===

Drug Courts

 * === specialist courts that deal with offenders who are dependent on drugs (emerged due to disenchantment with the ability of traditional criminal justice approaches to provide long-term solutions to the cycle of drug use and crime - aim to assist drug-dependent offenders overcome both drug dependence and criminal offending) ===

**The Drug Court of New South Wales (NSW)**

 * === first Drug Court to be trialled and evaluated in Australia ===
 * === began operation as a two-year pilot in February 1999 ===
 * === following evaluations of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (2002) – decision made to continue program ===

**The Youth Drug and Alcohol Court (YDAC) NSW**

 * === innovative pilot program within the criminal justice system ===
 * === offenders not processed through the justice system but offered an opportunity to participate in an intensive program of **rehabilitation BEFORE being sentenced** ===
 * === in a six month program participants undergo detoxification and rehabilitation, attend educational and vocational courses, and appear regularly throughout that period before the Youth Drug and Alcohol Court ===
 * === YDAC is **administered by the Children's Court** and operates within the existing legislative framework of the //Children's (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987//, supplemented by Practice Directions ===