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Local court. Jaclyn and Paige. Introduction . They are presided over by judicial officers called magistrates who are addressed as your worship There are 165 local courts in NSW No jury is used
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Local court Jaclyn and Paige
Introduction • They are presided over by judicial officers called magistrates who are addressed as your worship • There are 165 local courts in NSW • No jury is used • The Local Court has criminal and civil jurisdictions and deals with the majority of criminal and summary prosecutions and civil matters (up to $60,000) in NSW.
Main functions • To hear and decide cases that involve summary offences eg.drinkdriving • To conduct committal hearings for indictable offences ( more serious offences ). Before the case can go to trial the details must be presented to a magistrate who has to decide whether or not there is a prima facie ( reasonable case ). If there is sufficient evidence to suggest it is a reasonable case, the case will go to trial in a District or Supreme court, if not the charges are dropped and the person is released.
Other information • Bail court- the court can deny or grant bail based on whether they believe the person who committed the crime will not turn up for the hearing or is a threat to the community. • Civil case- the local court not only deals with criminal cases but civil cases that could include family, money or neighborly issues for example.