Supreme and District Courts Brisbane

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The Supreme Court of Queensland is the highest court in the Australian State of Queensland, and sits at the middle of the Australian court hierarchy.The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court allows its trial division to hear civil matters involving claims of more than 750,000; criminal matters involving serious offences (including murder and manslaughter); and matters arising under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and cross-vesting legislation. A jury is used to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The division also hears all civil matters involving amounts of more than 750,000. A jury may be used to decide these disputes.The appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court allows its Court of Appeal to hear cases on appeal from the District Court, the trial division of the Supreme Court, and a number of other judicial tribunals in Queensland. Decisions made by the Supreme Court may be heard on appeal to the High Court of Australia.HistoryThe Supreme Court of Queensland was founded on 7 August 1861, with the assent of the Supreme Court Constitution Amendment Act 1861 . Two subsequent pieces of legislation, including the Additional Judge Act 1862 and the Supreme Court Act 1863, were also necessary to establish the court’s operating system.