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Supreme Court of Queensland

Coordinates: 27°28′4″S 153°1′14″E / 27.46778°S 153.02056°E / -27.46778; 153.02056
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Supreme Court of Queensland
Façade of the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law building in Brisbane—the main sitting location of the Court.
Map
27°28′4″S 153°1′14″E / 27.46778°S 153.02056°E / -27.46778; 153.02056
Established7 August 1861 (1861-08-07)
JurisdictionQueensland
LocationBrisbane
Coordinates27°28′4″S 153°1′14″E / 27.46778°S 153.02056°E / -27.46778; 153.02056
Composition methodJudges appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier (following consultation with the attorney-general and Cabinet)
Authorised byQueensland Parliament via the:
Appeals toHigh Court of Australia
Appeals fromDistrict Court of Queensland
Judge term lengthmandatory retirement by age of 70
Number of positions26
Websitewww.courts.qld.gov.au
Chief Justice of Queensland
CurrentlyHelen Bowskill
Since7 September 2015 (2015-09-07)
President of the Court of Appeal
CurrentlyDebra Mullins
Since3 April 2017 (2017-04-03)
Senior Judge Administrator, Trial Division
CurrentlyGlenn Martin
Since24 August 2021 (2021-08-24)

The Supreme Court of Queensland is the highest court in the Australian State of Queensland.[1] It was formerly the Brisbane Supreme Court, in the colony of Queensland.

The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court allows its trial division to hear civil matters involving claims of more than $750,000; criminal matters involving serious offences (including murder and manslaughter); and matters arising under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and cross-vesting legislation.[1] A jury decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The division also hears all civil matters involving amounts of more than $750,000. A jury may decide these disputes.

The appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court allows its Court of Appeal to hear cases on appeal from the District Court, the trial division of the Supreme Court, and a number of other judicial tribunals in Queensland.[1] Decisions made by the Supreme Court may be taken on appeal to the High Court of Australia in Canberra only by a grant of special leave of the High Court of Australia.

History

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The Supreme Court of Queensland was founded on 7 August 1861, with the assent of the Supreme Court Constitution Amendment Act 1861 (Qld). Two subsequent pieces of legislation, including the Additional Judge Act 1862 (Qld) and the Supreme Court Act 1863 (Qld), were also necessary to establish the court's operating system.[2]

Prior to separation of Queensland from New South Wales, the former naval officer, Captain John Clements Wickham, tried minor crimes in the Moreton Bay District. More serious cases were tried at the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Sydney. Two years before separation from New South Wales, the Moreton Bay Supreme Court Act 1857 (NSW) established the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the Moreton Bay District and Samuel Milford served as Judge. Milford resigned in February 1859, and was replaced by Alfred Lutwyche.[2]

Rockhampton Supreme Court, c. 1890

Initially, the Brisbane Supreme Court served as the Supreme Court for all of Queensland. As the colony's population grew, two other courts were constructed. The first sittings of the Northern Supreme Court were held at Bowen in 1874 and the Bowen Court House was built in 1880 in a classical revival style. The Central Supreme Court was officially opened at Rockhampton in 1896. After the opening of the Central Supreme Court at Rockhampton, the Northern Supreme Court moved from Bowen to Townsville. Justice Virgil Power, who served as the first Judge of the Central Supreme Court, was the first Queensland-born Supreme Court Judge. As the population of Queensland has grown, additional courts have been built at locations such as Bundaberg, Mackay, Cairns, Longreach, Maryborough, Roma and Townsville.[2]

Although the Brisbane Supreme Court initially served the needs of the entire colony of Queensland, it did not occupy a purpose-built building until 1879. Until then, the Brisbane Court sat at the Old Convict Barracks in Queen Street. These barracks were in disrepair and a number of improvements, including new sets of windows, had to be constructed to allow the continued sitting of the Court. Furthermore, on Sundays, the area of the barracks used by the Court was also used as a church. Although the Court's surroundings were not elaborate, Parliament did provide an annual grant towards the establishment of a Supreme Court Library from 1861 to 1879.[2]

By 1870, despite minor building modifications to the convict barracks, it had become clear that a new building was required to house the Brisbane Supreme Court. A site on George Street was selected and the prominent colonial architect, Francis Drummond Greville Stanley, submitted plans for an elaborate neoclassical building which was two storeys tall. These original plans featured stone floors and other sophisticated details. They were later modified for financial reasons and in 1875 John Petrie successfully tendered to construct the building.[2]

Supreme Court building, Brisbane, c. 1891
Architectural plans for the first Law Courts, constructed 1880

On 6 March 1879, the new Supreme Court opened. The entrance on the North Quay frontage had been designed as the main entrance but this was soon superseded by the George Street entrance. In 1880, iron gates were also added to the building. In 1931, the Queensland Public Works Department provided funds for the renovation of the interior of the Brisbane Supreme Court.[2]

On the night of 1 September 1968, the building that housed the Brisbane Supreme Court was damaged by arson.[3] It was subsequently demolished, and in 1976, it was replaced with a building designed by Bligh Jessup Bretnall and was opened by Queensland Governor Sir James Ramsay on 3 September 1981.[2]

In 1989, Justice Angelo Vasta was removed from the court by Queensland Governor on the request of the Parliament. This was the first time since federation that any state had used that method to remove a sitting judge from a Supreme Court.[4] Vasta was found to be not "a fit and proper person to continue in office" after giving false evidence to an investigation related to the Fitzgerald Inquiry.

In 2008, a $600 million building program began to create a new Brisbane Supreme Court and District Court building, designed by Architectus Brisbane, led by Prof John Hockings. The building is known as the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law and was officially opened on Friday 3 August 2012 by Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley. It incorporates a public plaza and links to the existing Brisbane Magistrates Court building.[5] The precinct occupies an entire city block between George, Roma, and Turbot streets.[2]

Composition

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In 1991 the Queensland Supreme Court was restructured into two divisions, the Trial Division and the Court of Appeal. The Court is headed by the Chief Justice of Queensland (currently Chief Justice Helen Bowskill) who sits in both the Trial Division and the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal comprises the President (currently President Debra Mullins) and four Judges of Appeal, who sit only in the Court of Appeal. Proceedings in the Court of Appeal are usually heard by three judges. The Trial Division comprises a number of trial judges and is headed by the Senior Judge Administrator (currently Justice Ann Lyons). Proceedings in the Trial Division are heard by one trial judge. Most trial division judges also rotate through the Court of Appeal, usually for three week periods.

Appeals from:

  • The Trial Division is heard by the Court of Appeal; and
  • The Court of Appeal is heard by the High Court of Australia.

The Court of Appeal also hears appeals from the District Court of Queensland.

Judges of the Court as of March 2022 are:

Position Name Date appointed Term in office Notes
Chief Justice Helen Bowskill 22 March 2022 2 years, 257 days [6]
President, Court of Appeal Debra Mullins AO 3 April 2017 7 years, 245 days [6]
Judge of Appeal John K. Bond 22 April 2021 3 years, 226 days [6][7]
Hugh Fraser 25 January 2008 16 years, 314 days [6]
Philip McMurdo 24 November 2015 9 years, 10 days [6]
Philip M. Morrison 1 August 2013 11 years, 125 days [6]
Debra Mullins AO 12 December 2019 4 years, 358 days [6]
Senior Judge Administrator Glenn Martin AM 25 March 2022 2 years, 254 days [6]
Judge Peter Applegarth AM 28 August 2008 16 years, 98 days [6]
David Boddice 2 July 2010 14 years, 155 days [6]
Thomas Bradley 3 December 2018 6 years, 1 day [6]
Susan Brown 16 December 2016 7 years, 354 days [6]
Martin Burns 18 December 2014 9 years, 352 days [6]
Graeme Crow 26 February 2018 6 years, 282 days [6]
Jean Dalton 24 February 2011 13 years, 284 days [6]
Martin Daubney 13 July 2007 17 years, 144 days [6]
James Douglas 27 November 2003 21 years, 7 days [6]
Paul Freeburn 20 May 2021 3 years, 198 days [6]
Peter Flanagan 27 June 2014 10 years, 160 days [6][8]
James Henry 12 September 2011 13 years, 83 days [6]
David Jackson 8 October 2012 12 years, 57 days [6][9]
Declan Kelly 6 September 2021 3 years, 89 days [6]
Duncan McMeekin 15 October 2007 17 years, 50 days [6]
Kerri Mellifont 4 November 2021 3 years, 61 days [6]
David North 18 July 2011 13 years, 139 days [6]
Soraya Ryan 9 March 2018 6 years, 270 days [6]
Frances Williams 17 February 2020 4 years, 291 days [6]

Noted former judges

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Facilities

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The Supreme Court sits mainly in the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law in Brisbane, which also houses the District Court.[5] The court began operating out of this facility on 27 August 2012, prior to which it was located in the Law Courts Complex.[5]

The court also has judges permanently appointed to sit in Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns, and regularly sits in other regional districts.[6]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c "Supreme Court". Department of Justice and Attorney-General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Robinson, Shirleene. "150 years of the Supreme Court of Queensland". Queensland State Archives. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Labourer 'set fire to court'". The Canberra Times. 6 September 1968. p. 3. Retrieved 11 November 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Campbell, Enid; Lee, H. P.; Campbell, Enid Mona (2013). The Australian Judiciary. Cambridge University Press. pp. 120–121. ISBN 978-0521769167. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "New Brisbane Supreme and District Court". Department of Justice and Attorney General (Queensland). Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Judges". Supreme Court (Qld). Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Judicial Profiles: The Honourable Justice John K Bond". Supreme Court Library Queensland. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Judicial Profiles: The Honourable Justice Peter Flanagan". Supreme Court Library Queensland. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Judicial Profile: The Honourable Justice David J Jackson". Supreme Court Library Queensland. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  10. ^ McPherson, B. H. Douglas, Edward Archibald (1877–1947). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014.
  11. ^ McPherson, B. H. Douglas, Robert Johnstone (1883–1972). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.

Sources

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Attribution

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