County Court of Victoria

The County Court of Victoria (formally "the County Court") was established in 1852 by the County Courts Act 1852. The court has jurisdiction in the State of Victoria, Australia. Its role has since changed significantly.

Since 25 November 2002 and as of March 2013, the Chief Judge of the County Court is His Honour Chief Judge Michael Rozenes QC, a former Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

History

The Victorian County Court (which holds the same level of seniority as the district courts in other states except Tasmania) was formed in 1852 as the court for the County of Bourke. It was modelled on the British county courts, which were established in 1846. Originally, the Court's principal purpose was to handle small civil claims, but this role evolved (with the partnering of the Court of General Sessions in 1968) into both civil and criminal jurisdiction. Since that time, the Court's jurisdiction has increased considerably.

Jurisdiction

Criminal

The County Court is the general trial court for Victoria. It has jurisdiction to hear all indictable criminal matters except treason, murder and manslaughter, which are heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The County Court also hear appeals from the Magistrates' Court regarding criminal cases. These are hearings de novo. (Civil appeals from the Magistrates' Court are only permitted on a point of law and are heard in the Supreme Court Appeals Division.) All decisions of the County Court except appeals from the Magistrates Court can be appealed in the Supreme Court Appeals Division.

Civil

The County Court has original jurisdiction in all civil matters. Cases heard in this jurisdiction include commercial matters, building disputes and damages arising from a wide range of incidents including medical negligence, serious injury and defamation. The Court is also able to hear Workcover matters.

The Court's civil jurisdiction also covers actions where jurisdiction is specifically conferred on the County Court by statute:

• The Administration and Probate Act
• The Settled Land Act
• The Adoption Act
• The Strata Titles Act
• The Cluster Titles Act
• The Transfer of Land Act
• The Property Law Act
• The Trustee Act

County Court judges

Name	Date Appointed (D/M/Y)
Chief Judge Michael Rozenes	25/11/2002
Judge Jim Duggan	12/12/1984
Judge Leo Hart	19/3/1985
Judge Michael Strong*	6/9/1988
Judge John Barnett	30/1/1990
Judge Roland Williams	10/2/1994
Judge Edward Campbell	7/6/1994
Judge David Morrow	7/6/1994
Judge Michael McInerney	21/6/1994
Judge Margaret Rizkalla	11/7/1994
Judge Thomas Wodak	16/8/1994
Judge Frank Shelton	5/9/1994
Judge Bill White	28/2/1995
Judge Marilyn Harbison	5/2/1996
Judge Tim Holt	7/10/1997
Judge Carolyn Douglas	7/10/1997
Judge Tim Wood	2/12/1997
Judge Ian Robertson	19/1/1998
Judge Graham Anderson	17/3/1998
Judge Lance Pilgrim	7/4/1999
Judge Pamela Jenkins	21/4/1999
Judge Jennifer Coate**	22/6/2000
Judge John Bowman	20/2/2001
Judge Rachelle Lewitan	16/5/2001
Judge Julie Nicholson	3/6/2001
Judge Graeme Hicks	20/8/2001
Judge John Smallwood	20/8/2001
Judge Susan Cohen	20/8/2001
Judge Meryl Sexton	20/8/2001
Judge Frances Hogan	2/10/2001
Judge Irene Lawson	26/3/2002
Judge Giuseppe Gullaci	4/6/2002
Judge Michael Bourke	10/9/2002
Judge Liz Gaynor	10/9/2002
Judge Phillip Coish	10/9/2002
Judge Ross Howie	22/10/2002
Judge Jane Campton	22/10/2002
Judge Roy Punshon	8/4/2003
Judge Wendy Wilmoth	8/4/2003
Judge Geoff Chettle	2/12/2003
Judge Frances Millane	2/12/2003
Judge Sandra Davis	26/10/2004
Judge Felicity Hampel	9/2/2005
Judge Jeanette Morrish	9/8/2005
Judge Julian Leckie	9/8/2005
Judge Paul Grant	26/4/2006
Judge David Parsons	22/8/2006
Judge Sue Pullen	22/8/2006
Judge Tony Howard	3/10/2006
Judge Lisa Hannan	3/10/2006
Judge Damian Murphy	24/10/2006
Judge Maree Kennedy	1/5/2007
Judge Chris O'Neill	24/7/2007
Judge Duncan Allen	21/8/2007
Judge Iain Ross	23/10/2007
Judge Philip Misso	11/12/2007
Judge Katherine Bourke	11/12/2007
Judge Jane Patrick	15/4/2008
Judge Peter Wischusen	15/4/2008
Judge Paul Lacava	27/5/2008
Judge Frank Gucciardo	27/5/2008
Judge Mark Taft	29/9/2008

• Judge Michael Strong is currently at the Office of Police Integrity.
• Judge Jennifer Coate is currently the Victorian Coroner.

Locations

The County Court of Victoria is located in the legal precinct of Melbourne's central business district, on the corner of William Street, and Lonsdale Street opposite the Supreme Court and Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

The County Court has its headquarters on the corner of William and Lonsdale Streets in Melbourne. The building is owned by Challenger Financial Services. It also does circuits to the following locations:

• Bairnsdale
• Ballarat
• Bendigo
• Geelong
• Hamilton
• Horsham
• Mildura
• Morwell
• Sale
• Shepparton
• Wangaratta
• Warrnambool
• Wodonga

See also

• Australian court hierarchy

External links

• County Court of Victoria