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MAGISTRATES' COURT ACT 1989 - SECT 25 Extent of jurisdiction

MAGISTRATES' COURT ACT 1989 - SECT 25

Extent of jurisdiction

    (1)     The Court has jurisdiction—

        (a)     to hear and determine all summary offences; and

        (b)     to hear and determine all indictable offences which may be heard and determined summarily; and

        (c)     to conduct committal proceedings into indictable offences and either—

S. 25(1)(c)(i) amended by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 82.25).

              (i)     direct the accused to be tried and order that the accused be remanded in custody until trial or grant bail; or

S. 25(1)(c)(ii) amended by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 82.25).

              (ii)     discharge the accused; and

        (d)     to make orders to enforce the payment of all fines which are, by any Act, directed to be recovered in the Court or for the recovery of which no provision is made.

    (2)     The jurisdiction given by subsection (1) is additional to any other jurisdiction given to the Court with respect to a criminal proceeding by or under any Act other than this Act.

S. 25(3) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 ss 46(a), 54(l)).

    (3)     In a particular case, the jurisdiction given by subsection (1)(c) may be exercised concurrently with the jurisdiction of the Children's Court to conduct a committal proceeding if—

        (a)     the charges against each accused could properly be joined in the same indictment; and

        (b)     the accused who is a child—

              (i)     is of or over the age of 15 years at the time the proceeding against the child for the offence is commenced; and

S. 25(3)(b)(ii) amended by Nos 30/2010 s. 85, 63/2014 s. 5(2), 16/2020 s. 20.

              (ii)     is charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, child homicide, homicide by firearm, an offence against section 197A of the Crimes Act 1958 (arson causing death) or an offence against section 318 of the Crimes Act 1958 (culpable driving causing death); and

        (c)     the Court makes an order under subsection (4) in relation to the accused who is not a child and the Children's Court makes an order under section 516A(2) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 in relation to the accused who is a child.

S. 25(4) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 ss 46(b), 54(l)).

    (4)     The Court may order that joint committal proceedings in relation to a particular accused are appropriate having regard to—

        (a)     the age of the child; and

        (b)     the effect on victims of the offence charged if the committal proceedings were not conducted jointly; and

        (c)     the estimated duration of the committal proceedings if conducted jointly; and

        (d)     the number of witnesses that would be cross‑examined by both accused; and

        (e)     any other matter considered relevant.

S. 25(5) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(l)).

    (5)     The Court may make an order under subsection (4) on the application of a party or on its own motion.

S. 25(6) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(l)).

    (6)     Each party is entitled to be present and may address the Court when the Court is considering the making of an order under subsection (4).

S. 25(7) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(l)).

    (7)     If the Court makes an order under subsection (4), the Court may adjourn the proceeding for a period not exceeding 28 days to enable the Children's Court to determine whether joint committal proceedings are appropriate in the particular case.

S. 25(8) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 ss 46(c), 54(l)).

    (8)     If joint committal proceedings are conducted under subsection (3)—

        (a)     the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 applies as far as practicable to the   child; and

        (b)     the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 applies as far as practicable to the other accused

with any necessary modifications to ensure that the joint committal proceedings are conducted fairly and efficiently.

Pt 4 Div. 2 (Heading) repealed by No. 7/2009 s. 427(1)(c) (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(m)).

    *     *     *     *     *

Pt 4 Div. 2 Subdiv. 1 (Heading) repealed by No. 7/2009 s. 427(1)(c) (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(m)).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 26 amended by Nos 34/1990 s. 4(Sch. 3 item 3), 33/1994 s. 6(1)(2), 35/2002 s. 12, 50/2006 s. 15(1)–(3), repealed by No. 7/2009 s. 427(1)(c) (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(m)).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 27 repealed by No. 7/2009 s. 427(1)(c) (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(m)).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 28 amended by Nos 33/1994 s. 6(3), 50/2006 s. 15(4), repealed by No. 7/2009 s. 427(1)(c) (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(m)).

    *     *     *     *     *

Pt 4 Div. 2 (Heading) inserted by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 82.26).

Division 2—Procedure