SUPREME COURT OF TASMANIA
The Supreme Court is the highest court in Tasmania. The Court hears cases in its criminal jurisdiction, cases in its civil jurisdiction, and appeals.
People accused of serious crimes, such as murder, manslaughter and serious drug offences, are dealt with in the Supreme Court after first being charged in the Magistrates Court. If there is a plea of not guilty, then a criminal case is tried by a jury.
In the Court's civil jurisdiction, judges deal with claims for amounts of more than $50,000, and with claims for other types of orders. Civil cases are usually tried by a judge alone but, in some cases, there is a right to choose a trial by a jury of seven people, presided over by a judge.
There are rights of appeal to the Supreme Court from the decisions of magistrates, and from most tribunals. Appeals from decisions in Supreme Court criminal cases are usually heard by a court consisting of three Supreme Court judges, called the Court of Criminal Appeal. Appeals from decisions in Supreme Court civil cases are usually heard by a court consisting of three Supreme Court judges, called the Full Court of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court buildings are located in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.