What is the judicial hierarchy?
Australia has a federal judicial system made up of four judicial levels: • The High Court of Australia at the apex. It is the final court of appeal from federal and state courts and sits above the Federal Court of Australia and the supreme courts of the states. In certain very important matters, the High Court can also be the court in which a matter is commenced. • The Federal Court of Australia is established as the superior, but not highest court in the federal jurisdiction. • Federal Magistrates Court. • The Family Court of Australia. In addition Australian states have three judicial levels within their hierarchies. The names of these courts vary across Australia , however most states have: • a superior court which is the supreme court of the state or territory • an intermediate court known as county courts or district courts*. There are no intermediate courts in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. • a court of first instance known as courts of summary jurisdiction, local
Australia has a federal judicial system made up of three judicial levels: • The High Court of Australia at the apex. It is the final court of appeal from federal and state courts. In certain very important matters, the High Court can also be the court in which a matter is commenced. • The Federal Court of Australia (exercising jurisdiction in gerneral federal law) and the Family Court of Australia (exercising jurisdiction in family law). • The Federal Magistrates Court (undertaking less complex family and federal law work). In addition most Australian states and territories have three judicial levels within their hierarchies. The names of these courts vary across Australia , however most states and territories have: • a superior court which is the supreme court of the state or territory • an intermediate court known as county courts or district courts*. There are no intermediate courts in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. • a court of first instance known as courts of summ
