Access to Justice

Queensland District Court - Brisbane

The District 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. This court also hears appeals from cases decided in the Magistrates Court and disputes involving amounts of more than $150,000 but less than $750,000. A jury may be used to decide these financial disputes. The judges of the District Court also sit in the: - Planning and Environment Court which hears disputes over land, such as objections to rezoning and subdivisions - Children's Court of Queensland which deals with cases where the accused (or defendant) is under the age of seventeen.