The Court Hierarchy

1. The Court Hierarchy What are the roles of the different courts? Why is it important to have a court hierarchy?

3. Court Hierarchy • A ranking of the courts from the lowest to the highest • Why is it important to have a court hierarchy?

4. Your Responses

5. There are many reasons for a Court Hierarchy… • Specialisation– it allows judges and magistrates to gain greater skills and expertise in the particular matters they hear and promotes consistency in decision-making

6. Convenience – it makes sense to have cases of a similar nature being heard by the same court. It also provides a more efficient use of resources.

7. Appeals – a hierarchy allows the decision of a court lower in the system to be reviewed on appeal, if necessary, by a higher court. This appeals process promotes fairness.

8. Precedent – precedent means the use of past decisions in determining current cases. Usually only the higher courts set precedent, which is followed by lower courts.This relies heavily on the existence of a hierarchy.

9. Drink driving and speeding

10. Stabbing a person in a fight, resulting in death

11. Theft of a motor car worth $800

12. An appeal from the Supreme Court of Victoria involving a criminal matter

13. Mr Incredible Hulk is charged with the murder of Mr Clark Kent

14. Mr Stephen Hawking is charged with failure to pay a parking fine

15. Miss Lisa Simpson is charged with armed robbery

16. Ms Angelina Jolie is charged with fraud of $70 000

17. Mr T trespasses onto Ms Beyonce Knowles’ property and causes damage of $4000

18. Miss Miley Cyrus is found with the possession of heroin to the value of $25 000

19. Mr Post M. Pat works at a hotel, and embezzles $200 000 of the yearly takings