Local Court Attendance | Rules & Protocol
- When required to attend Court, whether as a plaintiff, defendant, witness, or in support of a friend or family member, you should dress appropriately for such an important occasion
- Men should wear a suit and tie, and ladies, a nice dress. Work uniforms should be avoided, if possible. Shorts, jeans, thongs, slacks and short dresses are unacceptable. Read more about how to dress for a court appearance
- Never arrive late to Court. To make sure you are on time, plan your arrival in advance, allowing extra time for public transport delays, or traffic problems. Aim to arrive at least ten (10) minutes before the listed time, and when you do arrive, inform the Court official in the foyer of the Court of your arrival, especially if you are unrepresented
- When travelling to Court by private vehicle, always make sure it is parked responsibly and not in breach of local parking regulations; also, obey street parking signs and time limitations, if parked kerbside
- Without exception, young children should not accompany you and your witnesses, family, or friends to Court. If bringing children to Court with you is unavoidable, at least monitor them carefully, so that they don't annoy members of the public, or Court officials and certainly not the presiding judicial officer
Young, uncontrolled children often disrupt court proceedings, and interfere with the efficient running of the Court system
Attending Court is not a social function, but a serious occasion and some young children will find some court formalities distressing - Food, drink, and cigarettes are not permitted inside Court premises. Courts are smoke free zones
- It goes without saying that weapons of any description, illegal drugs and alcohol are absolutely forbidden inside Court premises. Most Courts have strict security measures in place at their entrances to enforce these restrictions
- All visitors must obey the instructions of Court officials and security guards on Court premises
- Loud talking or whispering whilst court is in session is totally unacceptable
- Mobile phones and pagers must be turned "off" before entering Court premises
- Photographic and listening devices are not permitted inside Court premises
- Students should limit the size of their groups so as to leave adequate seating in Court rooms for parties to the proceedings and other members of the public
- Visitors must always comply with the judicial officer's directions, and with any order that restricts publication of the proceedings
- You must always show respect to the judicial officer at all times. Judicial officers are addressed as "Your Honour". (Note: State and Territory Magistrates are addressed as "Your Worship" in all States and Territories, except NSW, where they are addressed as "Your Honour". Federal Magistrates are also addressed as "Your Honour")
- Visitors should enter and leave Court rooms without undue delay whilst court is in session. Standing at the rear of a Court room or in doorways is not permitted except with permission of the judicial officer
- Some Court proceedings are closed to the public. Unless you are authorised by law to be present, you are not allowed inside a Court room if this is the case
- A room in another building that is connected by means of an audio-visual link is part of the Court room whilst the link is in operation, and the same standards of behaviour apply to persons who at present in the linked building
- You should bow upon entering, and leaving a Court when it is in session, as a mark of respect for our Queen, whom the presiding judicial officer represents in the administration of justice in Australian Courts
Court Protocol | Rules