Supreme Court of Tasmania

The Supreme Court of Tasmania is the highest court in the Australian State of Tasmania. It plays a key role in the state's judiciary, working alongside the Magistrates Court. In the Australian court hierarchy, this court sits in the middle level. It can review decisions from lower courts in Tasmania and its own rulings can be appealed to the High Court of Australia.

The Supreme Court has the power to handle any civil cases in Tasmania and has exclusive authority over criminal cases in the state. Its main meetings take place in three cities: Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie. The part of the court that deals with appeals only meets in Hobart.

History

The Supreme Court of Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania, was set up on 10 May 1824. It was the first Supreme Court in Australia, just ten days before the one in New South Wales. Sir John Pedder was the first Chief Justice of the court. The first person to appear as a lawyer was Joseph Tice Gellibrand, who became Tasmania’s first Attorney-General. The very first case was about William Tibbs, who was found guilty of a serious crime and sent away for three years.

Dorothy Shea, who worked as the court's librarian from 1988 to 2016, found old copies of many laws from Tasmania dating back to 1833. She started a project to restore and move these important papers to the Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office. This work was finished shortly after she passed away in 2024.

Jurisdiction

The Supreme Court of Tasmania handles very important cases in the state. It can deal with any civil (non-criminal) case and the most serious criminal cases. It sits in the middle of the court system in Australia.

The court has two main parts: one for trying cases for the first time and another for reviewing decisions. Decisions from this court can be appealed to the High Court of Australia. In the past, some decisions could be sent to a court in London, but this stopped in 1986.

Smaller civil cases, like those involving less than $50,000, are usually handled by lower courts, except in special situations. The Supreme Court also hears appeals from lower courts in both civil and criminal cases.

Composition

The Supreme Court of Tasmania has up to seven judges. These judges are chosen by the Governor based on advice from a group of important government leaders. One special judge, called the Associate Judge, helps with managing court processes and deciding money amounts in civil cases.

Facilities

Building

The Hobart Supreme Court Complex is in Salamanca Place in Hobart. It was designed in 1972 by architect Peter Partridge and built in stages. The Criminal Court opened in March 1975, and the Civil Courts and Registry opened in 1980. In 2010, the building received an award for lasting design, and in 2023, it was added permanently to the Tasmanian Heritage Register.

Circuit court buildings

The Supreme Court of Tasmania has important buildings in different cities. One is in Launceston, called the Launceston Supreme Court. Another is in Burnie, which is used for both Supreme and Magisterial Courts.