I defend people charged by the police, whether it concerns a simple traffic offence or the most serious charge, murder.  Different sorts of offences are heard in various courts or jurisdictions around Victoria.

The Magistrates' Court hears traffic offences, less serious assaults, and dishonesty matters up to a value of $25,000 and less serious drug offences, among other things.

The County Court hears cases involving serious assault, serious sexual assault and rape, armed robbery, major dishonesty and fraud offences and serious drug offences.

The Supreme Court hears cases of murder, manslaughter, major drug cases and other such offences. These days it also hears Terrorism offences.

Appeals from the Magistrates Court are heard in the County Court. An Appeal of a County Court case is heard in the Court of Criminal Appeal (Supreme Court).  If the defendant is under 18 at the time of the offence, he/she is dealt with in the Children's Court. An inquest into a death is held at the Coroner's Court.

When you are charged the offence committed is either a summary matter or an indictable matter.

Summary matters are the less serious offences and are usually dealt with in the Magistrates Court

Indictable matters are the more serious matters and are dealt with in either the County or Supreme Courts

Click here for an outline of the process of a summary matter

Click here for an outline of the porcess of an indictable matter