Section Two: Courts

Introduction

We see and hear a lot about court business in the media, and the functions of the District Court will of course become familiar to you as you study and practise as a Judicial Justice. It is important to understand the hierarchy of courts and where the District Court sits within it.

This section introduces the whole court system. You may find there are more courts than you realised, as all the specialist courts and tribunals are included.

Reading

• Judicial JP Manual chapter 1, part 3
• NZ Legal System chapter 6

The District Court Act 2016 is of particular significance to judicial officers sitting in the District Court. This act establishes the District Court in the court hierarchy and the places the Chief District Court Judge at the head of the District Court.

Other acts of note when looking at court hierarchy and jurisdiction include the Justices of the Peace Act 1957, the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, the Electronic Courts and Tribunals Act 2016, the District Court Rules 2014, the Senior Courts Act 2016 and High Court Rules 2016.