Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

JUSTICES ACT - SECT 43

    (1)     Subject to this section, every matter of complaint shall (unless the provisions of some Act otherwise require) be heard and determined by:

        (a)     a Magistrate, if there is any Magistrate present who is competent and willing to act; or

        (b)     if there is no such Magistrate present, then by 2 or more Justices.

    (2)     A single Justice may hear and determine a matter of complaint where:

        (a)     the matter of complaint is that the defendant has committed an offence against a law in force in the Territory; and

        (b)     the offence is an offence that is not punishable by a term of imprisonment; and

        (c)     the penalty that may be imposed for the offence is a maximum penalty of, or of not more than an amount equal to, 0.8 of a penalty unit; and

        (d)     the complainant and the defendant consent in writing to a single Justice hearing and determining the matter.