Courts and tribunals
Courts and tribunals are a key part of our justice system. They settle disputes, deal with people who break the law, and determine the legal rights and obligations of individuals, business and government.This helps our society operate and enables us to live in a safe and secure community.
Our courts are where most disputes and criminal cases are decided. Tribunals, on the other hand, deal with specialised areas. Find out more about the courts and tribunals.
The role of the courts
When it is alleged that an offence is committed, Queensland Police investigate the matter.
If the investigator considers there is enough evidence to prove someone has broken the law, they will charge a person with an offence. The person charged with the offence is called the defendant or the accused.
The role of the Queensland courts is to decide if the defendant is guilty of the charges and if so, what the penalty will be.
Queensland has three levels of state courts:
- the Supreme Court
- the District Court
- the Magistrates Court.
These courts are ranked in order of the seriousness of the cases they hear.
About Themis - Goddess of justice |
In Greek religion, Themis was the personification of justice, the goddess of wisdom and good counsel, and the interpreter of the gods’ will. According to some sources, she was the daughter of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth). She was Zeus’s second consort and by him, the mother of the Horae. On Olympus, Themis maintained order and supervised ceremonies. She was a giver of oracles, and one legend relates that she once owned the oracle at Delphi but later gave it to Apollo. The cult of Themis was widespread in Greece. She was - and still is - represented as a woman of sober appearance carrying the scales of justice and a sword as a symbol of justice enforcement.
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