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Court Governance Service The Executive Delivery supports and Sharing the Our Council Facilities of Service Judges Delivery and the and Chief Sharing Judge Our in Facilities judicial Service administration Delivery Constitution of the County Court Under s. 4 County Court Act, 1958, the County Court is constituted by the Chief Judge, Judges of the County Court and the Registrar of the Court. The administration of the law in the Court is the responsibility of the Council of Judges, which consists of all Judges of the Court, including Acting Judges appointed after the commencement of s. 7 of the Courts Legislation (Judicial Appointments and Other Amendments) Act 2005. The Jurisdiction of the Court As the major trial court in Victoria, the Court’s jurisdiction is as follows: Criminal Jurisdiction The Court can hear all indictable offences, except treason, murder and murder related offences. The broad range of offences heard includes serious theft; armed robbery; drug traffi cking and associated offences; sexual offences; fraud and dishonesty charges; serious assault and affray; and income and sales tax offences. Most cases arise from State legislation, but a proportion of the cases are based in Commonwealth legislation. Civil Jurisdiction On January 1, 2007, legislative changes resulted in the County Court having unlimited civil jurisdiction. Cases heard in this jurisdiction include commercial matters; building disputes; and damages arising from a wide range of incidents including medical negligence, serious injury and defamation. The Court has original jurisdiction in WorkCover matters. Criminal Appeals The Court hears appeals from the criminal jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court and the criminal and family divisions of the Children’s Court. Adoption and Change of Name The Court has jurisdiction to make orders relating to adoption and change of name. The contrasting photographs showing the old court room at Bendigo (left) and the new state of the art courtroom at the Latrobe Valley Complex (right) opened in October 2006. 10 County Court of Victoria 2006/07 Annual Report
Court Governance Council of Judges Pursuant to s. 87(1) County Court Act 1958, the Council of Judges is required to meet at least once per year to consider the Act and the Rules, the duties of the offi cers of the court, and to consider the system of procedure and administration of law in the Court. The Council of Judges met on three occasions in 2006-07. Matters considered by the Council included the recommendations of the BCG Report; court dress; 2005-06 Annual Report; rule changes (see below); and the internal governance of the court. Executive of the Council of Judges The Executive of the Council of Judges supports the Council of Judges and the Chief Judge in the judicial administration of the court through its regular meetings. In 2006-07 the Executive met on 20 occasions. The Chief Judge provides the meeting with a review of matters dealt with between meetings including correspondence received and sent, as well as seeking the committee’s views with respect to matters such as Juries exiting the building after verdict; civil jurisdiction of the County Court; appointment of associates; proposed Judicial Induction Program; circuit travel allowances; Criminal Jurisdiction 2007; and requests to undertake research. County Court Rules Committee Members of the Rules Committee met as required to review and draft revisions to the County Court Rules. Proposed rule changes were referred to the Council of Judges on November 23, 2006 for adoption as follows: County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 19) Rules 2006 These rules provide for freezing and search orders to be harmonised with like rules in other jurisdictions. The Rules came into effect on January 1, 2007. County Court in Regional Victoria In 2006-07, the County Court continued its commitment to the regional areas of Victoria at fourteen circuit courts located at Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Hamilton, Horsham, Latrobe Valley, Mildura, Morwell, Sale, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga. In excess of 100 circuit sittings were scheduled with Judges and staff travelling to the circuit locations to conduct both criminal and civil matters. Throughout the year, on average one fi fth of the Judges of the Court conducted sittings in regional locations. During 2006-07 cases heard in circuit locations were as follows: • 1958 cases initiated (2131 in 2005-06) • 1868 cases fi nalised (2083 in 2005-06) • 1752 cases pending (1819 in 2005-06). Highlights and Events A highlight of the year was the opening of the new Latrobe Valley Justice Complex at Morwell on October 20, 2006 (see page 10). This modern complex replaces the former Morwell Court as the primary circuit court in eastern Victoria. Staff from Registry and Administration at Melbourne again visited circuit courts during the year to liaise with staff and to assess the court environs. As a result, improvements were made in the information technology area and plans set out for assistance to the maintenance of the regional court libraries. A very successful senior registrars’ conference, which afforded the opportunity for Melbourne and regional staff to discuss matters of mutual interest, was held at Woodend on November 15-16, 2006. County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 20) Rules 2006 These rules substitute an increased scale of costs to the Rules. The Rules came into effect on January 1, 2007. County Court (Chapter II Amendment No. 2) Rules 2006 These rules make further provision in relation to the confi scation of property and the proceeds of crime through changes to the Confi scation Act 1997 and the Proceeds of Crime Act (Cth) 2002. The Rules came into effect on January 1, 2007. Members of the Executive of the Council of Judges in discussion (from left) Judge Williams, Judge Cohen, Chief Judge Rozenes, Judge Punshon, Neil Twist (CEO), Judge Wodak. www.countycourt.vic.gov.au 11
Page 1 and 2: County Court of Victoria Moving Ahe
Page 3 and 4: Contents Year at a Glance 2 Report
Page 5 and 6: Report of the Chief Judge Sequam In
Page 7 and 8: Working with the Community It is no
Page 9 and 10: Criminal Jurisdiction Number 6000 5
Page 11: Civil Jurisdiction Number 12000 100
Page 15 and 16: Supporting the Judges of the Court
Page 17 and 18: Judicial Professional Development J
Page 19 and 20: Service Delivery and Sharing our Fa
Page 21 and 22: Court Links with External Organisat
Page 23 and 24: Moving Ahead The County Court of Vi

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