Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the District Court derives from the District Courts Act 1947, which provides that the District Court can hear both criminal and civil proceedings.
The District Courts criminal jurisdiction is busier and arguably broader than any other Court. Over 95% of all criminal trials, including jury trials on all but the most serious matters are heard in the District Court. Within its jurisdiction are offences ranging from very serious offending such as rape, aggravated robbery, and sexual violation down to minor offences such as disorderly behaviour. The only charges that cannot be heard by the District Court are murder, manslaughter and Class A drug offences, and a small number of other very serious crimes.
The District Courts' civil jurisdiction allows the Court to hear any matter where the amount in dispute is $200,000 or less. Civil claims involve arguments over money and property and can include complex commercial transactions.
Read more about this topic: District Courts Of New Zealand
Famous quotes containing the word jurisdiction:
“The putting into force of laws which shall secure the conservation of our resources, as far as they may be within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, including the more important work of saving and restoring our forests and the great improvement of waterways, are all proper government functions which must involve large expenditure if properly performed.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)