Dribbin & Brown appear most days in the Magistrates’ Courts located in the Melbourne CBD, Ringwood, Dandenong, Moorabbin, Frankston, Geelong and Ballarat. We also appear in the northern suburbs and, more often than not, in the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court.
If you have a matter listed in the Magistrates’ Court, Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers can help you. Having offices near and attending most of the local Magistrates’ Courts on a daily basis gives our lawyers an edge. It means that we understand the Courts, the Magistrates that sit there and the prosecutors and Court staff that work there.
Being so connected to these Courts helps us understand how the Courts work and makes it easier for us to get things done. It also means that our lawyers are very comfortable appearing at these Courts. This, combined with the breadth of knowledge that exists at Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers, means that as a law firm we are ideally positioned to help you.
For information on the processes and various hearing types that occur at the Magistrates’ Court, please click here. For links to many of the local Magistrates’ Courts in Victoria, click here. To look up your case, click on the EFAS link.
The Magistrates’ Courts in Victoria handle over 225,000 cases per year, and this number is rising due to the changes to the bail laws, resulting in many defendants being prematurely locked up.
Commonly asked questions about the Magistrates Court:
Can you go to gaol in the Magistrates’ Court?
The answer is yes.
What is the maximum penalty that can be handed down in the Victorian Magistrates Court?
The maximum penalty that can be handed out in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria on a single charge is 2 years but, on multiple charges, the maximum sentence that can be imposed increases to 5 years.
What cases can be heard in the Magistrates’ Court?
Only cases that have a maximum penalty of 10 years or under can be heard in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. The only exceptions to this rule are found in schedule 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009. If the charge appears in this section, it means that it can also be heard in the Summary Jurisdiction, being the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
Can I have a jury trial in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria?
Matters that are heard in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria will only ever be heard by a single Magistrate; there are no jury trials that occur in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. Jury trials are heard in the County Court or Supreme Court of Victoria. Click here for more information on jury trials in the County Court.
Are you facing charges in the Magistrates Court of Victoria? If so you should call Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers today, so that we can assess how we can best help you.
