What happens to the Courts over Christmas?

** Updated dates for 2022/2023 **

As the Festive season swiftly approaches, many of us are wrapping up for the year and making preparations for celebrations and holidays. However, have you ever wondered what happens to the Courts over Christmas?

Like many other services and organisations, the Courts' operating hours change over the festive period.

The court system doesn’t completely shut down though; there’s typically judges and support staff on-call for emergency cases.

For details specific to your state, check the Court vacation dates below.

Australian Capital Territory’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court: 1pm 23 December 2022 – 2 January 2023

• Magistrates Court: 1pm 23 December 2022 – 2 January 2023

For more information, visit the Australian Capital Territory Courts website.

New South Wales’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court: 19 December 2022 - 27 January 2023

• District Court: 17 December 2022 – 29 January 2023

• Local Court: 24 December 2022 - 6 January 2023

For more information, visit the New South Wales Courts website.

Northern Territory’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court: 2022/23 Sitting dates

• Local Court: 19 December 2022 – 9 January 2023

For more information, visit the Northern Territory Courts website.

Queensland’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court : 19 December 2022 to 27 January 2023

• District Court : 19 December 2022 to 20 January 2023

• Magistrates Court: 2022 Calendars & 2023 Calendars

For further information, see the Queensland Courts website.

South Australia’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court: 4:30pm 23 December 2022 to 16 January 2023

• District Court: 4:30pm 23 December 2022 to 6 January 2023

• Magistrates Court: Registries will remain open except for public holidays, though there are some limitations on the matters being heard. Normal listings resume 3 January 2023.

For further information, see the South Australia Courts website.

Tasmania’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court : 19 December 2022 to 27 January 2023

• Magistrates Court : 26 December 2022 to 2 January 2023

For further information, see the Tasmanian Courts website.

Victoria’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court: 23 December 2022 - 6 January 2023

• County Court : 19 December 2022 – 13 January 2023

• Magistrates Court : 22 December 2022 – to be advised.

   

  At the time of publishing the Magistrates Court of Victoria have yet to provide their list of sitting days for 2023.

For more information, visit the Victorian Courts website.

Western Australia’s Court Vacations

• Supreme Court : Several offices of the Supreme Court will remain open Monday – Friday except for public holidays.

• District Court: awaiting the Court’s release of vacation dates.

• Magistrates Court: awaiting the Court’s release of vacation dates.

For more information, visit the Western Australia Courts website.

Contacting Shine Lawyers over the festive season

Shine Lawyers offices will be closed from 5pm Friday 23rd December 2022 and re-open on Wednesday 4th January 2023.

During this period, our friendly client care team will continue to be available by phone as follows:

• Friday 23rd December: 8:15am – 4:30pm

• Saturday 24th December: Closed

• Sunday 25th December: Closed

• Monday 26th December: Closed

• Tuesday 27th December: Closed

• Wednesday 28th December: 8:15am – 4:30pm

• Thursday 29th December: 8:15am – 4:30pm

• Friday 30th December: 8:15am – 4:30pm

• Saturday 31st December: Closed

• Sunday 1st January: Closed

• Monday 2nd January: Closed

• Tuesday 3rd January: 7:15am – 8pm

*Times are AEST

You can also make an enquiry online during these closure periods.

We wish everyone a very joyous festive season and a Happy New Year.