LESSON 13.4 How do Australian courts work?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • arrange the courts into a hierarchy • distinguish between state and federal courts and explain the role of the courts.
Tune in Did you know Australian courts are organised in a hierarchy? Some are federal courts, while others are in the states and territories.
FIGURE1 The hierarchy of courts in Australia
High Court of Australia
Federal court
Supreme Court
State/territory courts
District (County) Court
Local (Magistrates) Court
1. Why do you think we have a court hierarchy? 2. Why do you think the High Court is at the top of the hierarchy? 3. In what ways do you think the cases heard in the Magistrates Court might be different from the cases heard in the Supreme Court?
13.4.1 Going to court If someone is charged with a crime, their case may be heard in court. The court will decide if they are guilty or not guilty. If a person believes that another person has harmed them, the case may be heard in a court. The court will decide if the other person is liable or not liable.
TOPIC13 Laws and citizens 487
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