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County Court of Victoria

The County Court of Victoria is the middle tier of Victoria's court hierarchy. The court has a criminal, civil and appellate (appeals) jurisdiction.

The organisational structure of the County Court is:

• Chief Judge
• Judges
• Registrar of the Court

Criminal jurisdiction and trials

Examples of criminal offences heard in the County Court include:

• drug trafficking and associated offences
• serious assaults
• serious theft; property and fraud
• sex offences
• obtaining financial advantage by deception (such as dishonoured or stolen cheques).
  

The Court has primary responsibility for sex offence trials.

Criminal trials are heard by a judge and jury, or judge alone if the defendant has entered a guilty plea. The jury usually consists of 12 people, but up to 15 jurors may be empanelled for lengthy trials.

Civil jurisdiction and trials

The court has an unlimited jurisdiction in all matters to hear compensation claims and commercial matters.

Civil trials may be heard by a judge alone, or a judge and jury of six people. A plaintiff or defendant may request that the matter be heard before a jury.

Appeals

The County Court determines appeals from:

• the criminal jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria
• the orders of magistrates within the criminal and family divisions of the Children's Court.

Appeals to the County Court are heard by a single judge without a jury, and cannot be further appealed to the Supreme Court.

A party to a proceeding that originated in the County Court may appeal against a judgment or order of the Country Court to the Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Where cases are heard

Most County Court cases are heard in Melbourne, although judges can also hear and determine cases in regional Victoria 'on circuit'. There are thirteen circuit courts in Victoria located in the major regional centres.