District Court of Western Australia


The District Court of Western Australia is the intermediate court in Western Australia. The Perth Registry is located at 500 Hay Street, Perth. Other registries are located at Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Derby, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, and South Hedland.
In the Criminal jurisdiction it hears serious, indictable criminal offences for which the maximum penalty is 25 years imprisonment.
In the Civil jurisdiction, the District Court hears civil claims of up to $750 000 and has unlimited jurisdiction in claims for damages in personal injury cases.
Decisions from the Magistrates Court and some tribunals can be appealed against in the District Court. The court is low in the Australian court hierarchy.
The current Chief Judge of the District Court is Kevin Frederick Sleight, who has held the position since April 2015.