There is a Supreme Court in and for Vic toria, constituted under the authority of the Constitution. It consists of a chief justice and four justices. It is unlimited in civil jurisdic tion as well as jurisdiction to try crimes and misdemeanors; as a full court it has appellate jurisdiction from all inferior tribunals. Courts of General Sessions of the Peace having juris diction to inquire into a limited class of indict able offenses and to hear appeals from Courts of Petty Sessions exist in certain proclaimed districts. Wardens Courts and Courts of Mines exist for hearing mining disputes; County Courts having authority to decide all personal actions up to the amount of BOO; Courts of Petty Sessions having summary risdiction in minor criminal matters and civil jurisdiction up to the amount of f50.
The Supreme Court of Tasmania consists of a chief justice and two puisne judges; it has both original and appellate jurisdiction in common law, equity, ecclesiastical and crimi nal matters. Local courts can deal with civil matters, some up to f100, and others up to f50. Justices in Petty Sessions can make con victions and orders in minor or criminal mat ters.
The Supreme Court of Queensland may be composed of not less than four, and not more than five, judges. It has the same jurisdiction as the Superior Courts of Common Law, and the High Court of Chancery, in England; it also possesses ecclesiastical and criminal juris diction. An appeal lies to the full court from all inferior courts. District Courts are vested
with a limited civil and criminaljurisdiction. Courts of Petty Sessions and Small Debt Courts exercise a limited authority in specified civil and criminal matters. Wardens Courts are constituted to deal with mining disputes.
The Supreme Court of Western Australia was established by Royal Charter in 1861, and the main provisions relating to its constitution and jurisdiction are contained in the Supreme Court Act (1880). It has jurisdiction in com mon law, equity, ecclesiastical and criminal matters. Local courts to those in some of the other Australian states can decide small debt cases. Justices in Courts of Petty Session can summarily convict, imprison or fine per sons guilty of minor oftenses. Wardens Courts have authority to deal with mining cases.
The Supreme Court of South Australia is composed of a chief justice and two other puisne judges. Its jurisdiction extends to all matters of law and equity. It has also juris diction in crimes and misdemeanors. It is the court of appeal from the decisions of all in ferior courts. South Australian local courts are to some extent analogous to the District Courts and County Courts of other states. Some of these courts have jurisdiction in civil matters up to the amount of f490; other local courts are limited to actions where the debt or damage claimed is no more than 120.
Bibliography.— See article AUSTRALIA