Magistrates Court of Queensland

Magistrates Court of Queensland
The Brisbane Magistrates Court building, a location of the Magistrates Court
Jurisdiction	Queensland
Location	130 locations across Queensland
Composition method	Vice-regal appointment upon nomination by the Premier following the advice of the Attorney-General and Cabinet
Authorized by	Queensland Parliament via the: Magistrates Courts Act 1921 (QLD)
Appeals to	District Court of Queensland
Judge term length	Mandatory retirement by age 70
Website	www.courts.qld.gov.au
Chief Magistrate of Queensland
Currently	Judge Janelle Brassington [1]
Since	8 July 2022 (2022-07-08)
Deputy Chief Magistrate of Queensland
Currently	Anthony Gett & Stephen Courtney [2]

Queensland Court Hierarchy
Federal Law Courts
High Court of Australia
Queensland Law Courts
Supreme Court of Queensland Court of Appeal Trial Division Court of Disputed Returns District Court of Queensland Planning and Environment Court Children's Court of Queensland Coroners Court of Queensland Land Court Industrial Court of Queensland Magistrates Court of Queensland
Tribunals
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal

The Magistrates Court of Queensland is the lowest court in the court hierarchy of Queensland, Australia.^[3] All criminal proceedings in Queensland begin in the Magistrates Court, with minor offences being dealt with summarily, and more serious ones being referred to a higher court on the strength of evidence.^[3] Most criminal cases are first heard in the Magistrates Court, as are most civil cases. The Magistrates Court hears approximately 95% of all court cases in Queensland.^[4]

Decisions made by the Magistrates Court may be heard on appeal to the District Court of Queensland. The Magistrates Court does not have an appellate jurisdiction.

The Chief Magistrate of Queensland, since 2022, is Judge Janelle Brassington.^[1]