Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts

MAGISTRATES COURT ACT 1930

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

CHAPTER 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Name of Act  
   2.      Dictionary  
   3.      Notes  

CHAPTER 2--MAGISTRATES COURT AND MAGISTRATES

   PART 2.1--THE COURT

   4.      Constitution of court  
   5.      Arrangement of court business  

   PART 2.2--APPOINTMENT AND JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES

           Division 2.2.1--Magistrates other than special magistrates

   6.      Meaning of magistrate in div 2.2.1  
   7.      Appointment of Chief Magistrate and other magistrates  
   7AA.    Requirements of appointment—magistrates  
   7A.     Eligibility for appointment as magistrate  
   7B.     Seniority of magistrates  
   7C.     Conditions of appointment of magistrates  
   7D.     Term of appointment of magistrates  
   7E.     Acting Chief Magistrate  
   7F.     Retirement  
   7G.     Magistrates not to do other work  
   7H.     Rights of public servants  

           Division 2.2.2--Special magistrates

   8.      Appointment of special magistrates  
   8AA.    Requirements of appointment—special magistrates  
   8A.     Term of appointment of special magistrates  
   8B.     Conditions of appointment of special magistrates  

           Division 2.2.3--Registrar and other court officers

   9.      Appointment of registrar etc  
   9A.     Staff assisting registrar  
   9B.     Functions of registrar and deputy registrars  

           Division 2.2.4--Jurisdiction of magistrates

   10P.    Oath etc of office  
   11.     Acts done beyond ACT  
   12.     Acts by magistrate out of court etc  
   13.     Making of enforcement order after case decided  
   15.     Process not invalid only because of death of magistrate etc  
   16.     Order instead of mandamus order  
   17.     Magistrates may exercise functions of justices of peace  

   PART 2.3--PROTECTION OF MAGISTRATES IN EXECUTION OF THEIR OFFICE

   17A.    Magistrate sued for act not within jurisdiction  
   17C.    Committal or enforcement order by magistrate on order of court  
   17D.    No action for acts done under Supreme Court order  
   17E.    No action if proceeding confirmed on appeal  
   17F.    Actions in cases prohibited  
   17G.    Payment into court  
   17H.    No action against magistrate for judicial acts in Magistrates  
   17I.    Magistrate sued for acts within magistrate's jurisdiction only liable in case of  
   17J.    Verdict for defendant  
   17K.    Damages  

CHAPTER 3--CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

   PART 3.1--PRELIMINARY

   18A.    Definitions for ch 3  

   PART 3.2--CRIMINAL JURISDICTION

   19.     Jurisdiction of court  
   21.     Jurisdiction of court if defendant absent from ACT  
   22.     Proceeding of court if it considers offence should be dealt with on  

   PART 3.3--BEGINNING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

           Division 3.3.1--Beginning criminal proceedings—general

   25.     Informations  

           Division 3.3.2--Informations

   26.     Laying of informations  
   27.     Description of people and property and of offences  
   28.     Power of court to amend information  
   29.     Court may adjourn hearing if amendment made  
   30.     Form of information  

           Division 3.3.3--Summonses

   37.     When magistrate may issue summons  
   38.     Form of summons  
   41.     Service of summons  

           Division 3.3.3A--Court attendance notices

   41A.    Definitions—div 3.3.3A  
   41B.    Commencing criminal proceeding by court attendance notice  
   41C.    Court attendance notice––service  
   41D.    Court attendance notice—filing  
   41E.    Court attendance notice—relationship to information and  

           Division 3.3.4--Warrants

   42.     Issue of warrant and summons  
   43.     Procedure on filing indictment  
   44.     Direction of warrant  
   45.     Any police officer may execute warrant  
   47.     Form of arrest warrant  
   48.     Warrant to be in force till executed  
   49.     Sunday warrants  

   PART 3.4--HEARING OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

           Division 3.4.1--Hearing of criminal proceedings—general

   53.     Conduct of case generally  
   54.     If both parties present in court to hear case  

           Division 3.4.2--Warrants for witnesses

   62.     Definitions—div 3.4.2  
   63.     Warrant to bring witness to court  
   64.     First instance warrant  
   65.     Warrant remains in force until executed  
   66.     Executing a warrant  
   67.     Procedure after arrest  
   68.     Orders following executed warrant  

           Division 3.4.3--Remand

   70.     Remand of defendant  
   72.     Bringing remanded defendant before court  
   72A.    Bail application hearings—audiovisual links  
   72B.    Defendant's appearance in non-bail proceedings—audiovisual links  

           Division 3.4.4--Committal and recognisance

   73A.    Extended application of div 3.4.4  
   74.     Remand of defendant before decision  
   75.     Remand of witness or defendant after decision  
   76.     Witnesses may be discharged on recognisance  
   77.     Recognisances  
   78.     Issue of warrant for non-appearance  
   79.     Recognisances taken out of court  
   80.     Forfeited recognisances—how enforced  

           Division 3.4.5--Adjournment of criminal proceedings

   83.     Magistrate may adjourn court generally  
   84.     Particular cases may be adjourned  
   85.     Proceeding if either party not present at adjourned hearing  
   86.     Proceeding if both parties present at adjourned hearing  
   87.     Witness to attend adjourned etc hearing  
   88.     Postponement of hearing  

   PART 3.5--PROCEEDINGS FOR INDICTABLE OFFENCES

           Division 3.5.1--Preliminary

   88A.    Meaning of jury in pt 3.5  

           Division 3.5.2--Indictable offences—beginning of proceedings

   89.     Disobedience of summons  
   89A.    Accused person may be excused from attendance before court  
   90.     Committal proceedings—prosecution evidence to be given to accused  
   90AA.   Written statements may be admitted in evidence  
   90AB.   Witnesses generally not to be cross-examined at committal hearing  
   90ABA.  Attendance of accused not required if order made under s 89A  
   90A.    Plea of guilty at committal hearing  
   91.     Proceeding following prosecution evidence  
   92A.    Committal for sentence for indictable offence tried summarily  
   92B.    Depositions as evidence  
   93.     Admissions and confessions  

           Division 3.5.3--Indictable offences—proceedings after hearing of evidence

   94.     Discharge or committal for trial  
   95.     Depositions of dead or absent people  
   96.     Evidence for defence  

           Division 3.5.4--Indictable offences—costs

   97.     Discontinued proceeding  

           Division 3.5.5--Indictable offences—witness recognisances

   103.    Recognisance of witnesses etc  
   104.    Signature of magistrate—notice to witnesses  
   105.    Court may remand noncompliant witness  

           Division 3.5.6--Indictable offences—other provisions

   105A.   Meaning of certified copy of depositions in div 3.5.6  
   106.    Giving depositions etc to director of public prosecutions  
   107.    Giving documents to proper officer of court  
   108.    Accused person may obtain copies of depositions etc  

   PART 3.6--PROCEEDINGS FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE SUMMARILY

   108A.   Indictable offences dealt with summarily  
   109.    Dismissal or adjournment in absence of informant  
   110.    Hearing in absence of defendant  
   111.    Adjournment if defendant does not appear  
   113.    Proceeding at hearing on defendant's confession  
   114.    If defendant does not admit the case  
   115.    Conduct of summary proceeding  

   PART 3.7--SERVICE AND PLEADING BY POST FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES

   116A.   Definitions for pt 3.7  
   116AA.   U Meaning of prescribed offence for pt 3.7 [See Endnotes]  
   116B.   Service of summons for prescribed offence  
   116BA.  Giving of notice by registrar  
   116C.   Proof of service  
   116D.   Pleas to prescribed offence  
   116E.   Procedure if plea of guilty entered  
   116F.   Procedure if notice of intention to defend given  
   116FA.  Procedure if defendant pleads not guilty  
   116G.   Procedure if defendant does not plead  
   116H.   Restricted penalties under pt 3.7  
   116I.   Consequences of conviction in absence of defendant  

   PART 3.8--INFRINGEMENT NOTICES FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES

           Division 3.8.1--Preliminary

   117.    Definitions for pt 3.8  
   118.    Purpose and effect of pt 3.8  
   119.    Regulations about infringement notice offences  

           Division 3.8.2--Infringement and reminder notices

   120.    Service of infringement notices  
   121.    Contents of infringement notices  
   122.    Additional information in infringement notices  
   123.    Time for payment of infringement notice penalty  
   124.    Extension of time to pay penalty  
   125.    Effect of payment of infringement notice penalty  
   126.    Application for withdrawal of infringement notice  
   127.    Withdrawal of infringement notice  
   128.    Guidelines about withdrawal of infringement notices  
   129.    Reminder notices  
   130.    Contents of reminder notices  
   131.    Additional information in reminder notices  

           Division 3.8.3--Additional provisions for vehicle-related offences

   131A.   Meaning of infringement notice  
   131B.   Service of infringement notice on responsible person for vehicles  
   131C.   Liability for vehicle-related offences  
   131D.   Illegal user declarations  
   131E.   Known offender declarations  
   131F.   Sold vehicle declarations  
   131G.   Unknown offender declarations  

           Division 3.8.4--Disputing liability for infringement notices

   132.    Disputing liability for infringement notice offence  
   133.    Extension of time to dispute liability  
   134.    Procedure if liability disputed  

           Division 3.8.5--Infringement notices—other provisions

   134A.   Authorised people for infringement notice offences  
   135.    Delegation of administering authority's functions  
   136.    Evidentiary certificates  

   PART 3.9--ENFORCEMENT OF CRIMINAL DECISIONS

           Division 3.9.1--Enforcement of criminal decisions—general

   141.    Minute of decision and notice to defendant  
   142.    Formal convictions and orders  
   143.    Consequences if information dismissed  
   144.    Copies of informations and other documents  

           Division 3.9.2--Enforcement of fines

   146.    Definitions for div 3.9.2  
   147.    Payment of fine  
   147A.   Notice of address etc  
   147B.   Access to particulars of address  
   147C.   Doubtful service  
   148.    Court may allow time to pay  
   149.    Penalty notice  
   150.    Default  
   151.    Default notice  
   152.    Special arrangements  
   153.    Notice for suspension of driver licence etc  
   154.    Access to personal information  
   154D.   Fine defaulters—imprisonment  
   154E.   Young fine defaulters  
   154F.   Young fine defaulters—no capacity to pay  
   157.    Outstanding fine discharged by payment  
   158.    Outstanding fine satisfied by imprisonment  
   158A.   Outstanding fine satisfied by imprisonment—young fine defaulter  
   160.    Conviction or order quashed or set aside  
   161.    Other enforcement provisions not affected  

           Division 3.9.3--Reciprocal enforcement of fines against bodies corporate

   166A.   Definitions for div 3.9.3  
   166B.   Declarations relating to reciprocating courts  
   166C.   Enforcement of fine  
   166D.   Effect of enforcement by reciprocating court  
   166E.   Registrar to notify payment of territory fine  

           Division 3.9.4--Enforcement of criminal decisions—other provisions

   184.    Enforcement of costs against informant  
   191.    Accounts to be kept of amounts received  
   193.    Forfeited goods may be sold  
   194.    Enforcement order not void for form only  
   195.    Convictions etc to be given to Supreme Court registrar  

   PART 3.10--CRIMINAL APPEALS

           Division 3.10.1--Criminal appeals—jurisdiction of Supreme Court

   207.    Jurisdiction of Supreme Court  

           Division 3.10.2--Appeals in criminal matters

   208.    Appeals to which div 3.10.2 applies  
   209.    Institution of appeal  
   210.    Substituted service of notice of appeal  
   214.    Appeals in cases other than civil cases  
   216.    Stay of execution pending appeal in certain cases  
   218.    Orders by Supreme Court on appeals  
   219.    No right of appeal under div 3.10.2 if review appeal  

           Division 3.10.2A--Reference appeals in criminal matters

   219A.   What is a reference appeal?  
   219AB.  Reference appeal in relation to proceeding  
   219AC.  Who may be heard at reference appeal  
   219AD.  Reference appeal decision does not affect verdict  

           Division 3.10.3--Review appeals in criminal matters

   219B.   Decisions subject to review appeal  
   219C.   How review appeal is instituted  
   219D.   Grounds for review  
   219E.   Report by Magistrate  
   219F.   Powers of Supreme Court  

           Division 3.10.4--Criminal appeals—other provisions

   222.    Control of Supreme Court over summary convictions  
   223.    Amendment of documents  
   224.    In cases of certiorari order  
   225.    Notice dispensed with  
   226.    Power of court to admit to bail  
   227.    Respecting the amendment of convictions etc  
   228.    No summons or information  
   229.    Distribution of penalty  

   PART 3.11--COSTS IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

   244.    Costs in criminal matters  

   PART 3.12--SECURITIES IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

   249.    Securities taken under Act  
   250.    Recovery of amount due under security  
   252.    Sums paid by surety may be recovered from principal  
   253.    Payment enforced by security  
   254.    Enforcement of recognisance  

CHAPTER 4--CIVIL PROCEEDINGS

   PART 4.1--PRELIMINARY

   256.    Application of ch 4  

   PART 4.2--CIVIL JURISDICTION

   257.    Personal actions at law—amount or value  
   258.    Power of court to grant relief  
   259.    Rules of equity to prevail  
   260.    Nuisance  
   261.    Disputed debts  
   262.    Cause of action arising, or defendant resident, outside ACT  
   263.    Requests under conventions relating to legal proceedings in civil and commercial  
   264.    Proceedings affecting title to land  
   265.    Disputes under Residential Tenancies Act  
   266.    Complaints under Utilities Act, pt 12  
   266A.   Civil disputes under ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act  

   PART 4.3--CASE STATED FOR SUPREME COURT

   267.    Case stated  

   PART 4.4--TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS FROM OR TO SUPREME COURT

   268.    Transfer of action from Supreme Court  
   269.    Procedure on transfer of action from Supreme Court  
   270.    Removal of proceedings into Supreme Court  
   271.    Stay of proceedings  

   PART 4.5--CIVIL APPEALS

   272.    Meaning of appeal—pt 4.5  
   273.    Jurisdiction  
   274.    Cases in which appeal may be brought  
   276.    Evidence on appeal  

CHAPTER 4A--THE CHILDRENS COURT

   PART 4A--.1 THE CHILDRENS COURT

   287.    Childrens Court  
   288.    Jurisdiction of Childrens Court  
   289.    Proceedings where children jointly charged with adults  
   290.    Chief Magistrate to arrange business of Childrens Court  
   291.    Childrens Court Magistrate to hear all matters  

   PART 4A--.2 CHILDRENS COURT MAGISTRATE

   291A.   Childrens Court Magistrate  
   291B.   Acting Childrens Court Magistrate  
   291C.   Assignment of other magistrates for Childrens Court matters  
   291D.   Completion of part-heard matters  

   PART 4A--.3 CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

   291E.   Procedures for hearing indictable offences  
   291F.   Childrens Court may adjourn hearings to allow access to legal advice  
   291G.   Childrens Court may send cases to Supreme Court for sentencing  

CHAPTER 5--MISCELLANEOUS

   PART 5.1--OFFENCES

   292.    Failure to comply with order in nuisance action  
   298.    Prejudice to employee  

   PART 5.2--OTHER

   307.    Contempt of court  
   308.    Magistrates Court's seal  
   309.    Directions about procedure etc  
   310.    Hearings generally to be in public  
   311.    Appearance by audiovisual or audio links etc  
   312.    Failure to give evidence—committal  
   314.    Registrar to give directions for preparation of transcript  
   315.    Applications for transcripts  
   316.    Record of proceedings  
   317.    Record of proceedings and transcript  
   318.    Person about to leave ACT may be ordered to be examined or produce  
   319.    Witnesses' rights and liabilities  
   320.    Depositions to be given to registrar  
   321.    Regulation-making power  

CHAPTER 10--TRANSITIONAL—CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ACT 2008

   400.    Childrens Court Magistrate  
   401.    Existing proceedings in Childrens Court  
   402.    Completion of part-heard matters if magistrate no longer Childrens Court magistrate  
   403.    Transitional regulations  
   404.    Expiry—ch 10  

CHAPTER 11--TRANSITIONAL—CRIMES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT ACT 2008

   450.    Application of amendments—indictable offences  
   451.    Application of certain other amendments  
   451A.   Admissibility of certain written statements made before commencement day  
   452.    Transitional regulations  
   453.    Expiry—ch 11  
           SCHEDULE 1
           DICTIONARY
           ENDNOTES