The ACT Supreme Court sits in the ACT Law Courts building at 4-6 Knowles Place, Canberra City, on the western side of City Hill. It is the superior court of the Territory and shares the building with the ACT Magistrates Court. The daily list tells you which courtroom a matter is in, which judge or registrar is taking it, the start time and what kind of hearing it is, so it is the quickest way to plan a day at court without ringing the registry.
What the ACT Supreme Court hears
The court was established on 1 January 1934 under the Seat of Government Supreme Court Act 1933 (Cth). It is a superior court of record with civil, criminal and appellate jurisdiction. Most of its original work is done by a single judge.
- Criminal trials and sentences for serious indictable offences. Trials are heard by a judge and jury, or by a judge alone where the accused elects that.
- Civil claims with no upper monetary limit. Claims under $250,000 usually start in the Magistrates Court instead.
- Appeals from the Magistrates Court, the Childrens Court and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
- The Court of Appeal, made up of three judges, which hears appeals from a single judge of the Supreme Court.
Registrars and deputy registrars also run their own lists, such as civil applications, directions hearings and first appearances in criminal matters. Those lists can be long, and they often start before the judges' lists.
How to read the Supreme Court daily list
The list is set out by courtroom. Each block starts with the courtroom number (for example Supreme Court 2 or Supreme Court 6), then the type of list, such as Criminal Directions, Civil Applications List, Appeal Directions, Criminal Applications or Trial by Jury, then the judicial officer: a Justice, the Registrar or a Senior Deputy Registrar. Under each block you will find:
- the start time, usually given once for the whole block, such as 9:00 AM or 9:30 AM
- the file number
- the case name
- the type of hearing, for example First Appearance, Directions Hearing, Bail Variation, Originating Application or Trial by Jury
The file number tells you the kind of case. Criminal proceedings carry SCC numbers, civil proceedings carry SC numbers and appeals carry CA or AC numbers. Criminal matters are usually named DPP v followed by the accused's name. On this page given names are shortened to initials. Some matters are listed under a pseudonym in quotation marks, and some appear only as Suppressed on the court's own hearing search because a court order restricts publication.
A whole block of matters can share one start time. That is normal for directions and mention lists: the registrar or judge works through the matters in turn, so you should be in the courtroom at the listed time even if your matter is near the end.
Finding your courtroom on the day
When you walk into the foyer of the Law Courts building you will see a large monitor showing every matter listed that day in both the Supreme Court and the Magistrates Court, with the courtroom for each. The eight Supreme Court courtrooms are to the right of the foyer and the eleven Magistrates Court courtrooms are to the left. The enquiry counter for both courts is opposite the entrance. Once you know your courtroom, go there and tell the court officer you have arrived. If you cannot find your matter, ask at the enquiry counter on the ground level.
Lists do change after they are published. Trials run longer than expected, matters are vacated by consent and courtrooms are swapped. Check the list again on the morning of the hearing and look at the foyer monitor when you arrive.
Address, parking and access
The courts are at 4-6 Knowles Place, Canberra City, close to London Circuit and Edinburgh Avenue. Extensive construction work for light rail and nearby developments has changed the routes into the area. London Circuit west, between Northbourne Avenue and Edinburgh Avenue, is closed to regular traffic, and the former car park in front of the Magistrates Court is closed.
- Parking: the courts suggest the One City Hill underground car park at the southern end of Knowles Place, near Edinburgh Avenue.
- Accessible parking: the closest spaces are in Hobart Place and in the One City Hill car park.
- Inside the building: the BindiMaps app or BindiWeb can guide you to a courtroom without registering.
Everyone entering passes through security screening. Food and drinks are generally allowed, but glass and metal items such as bottles, cans and cutlery are not taken through security. A coffee shop on the ground floor can be used before screening, and there are vending machines and drinking fountains inside.
Registry hours and contact
The Law Courts building opens at 8:30am on weekdays, excluding public holidays and the Christmas shutdown. The enquiry counter and registry are open from 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, for lodging documents and general questions. Telephone enquiries are taken on (02) 6205 0000 from 8:30am to 4:30pm on weekdays. Postal address: ACT Supreme Court, GPO Box 1548, Canberra City ACT 2601.
A short history
The court first sat on 12 February 1934 at Acton House. It later moved to the Hotel Acton, then to the Patent Office in Barton, and in May 1963 to the Law Courts building on the western side of City Hill. The first stage of the ACT Law Courts redevelopment, finished in 2019, brought the Supreme Court and Magistrates Court together in one building and added courtrooms. Matters that start in the lower court are listed on the ACT Magistrates Court list.
Frequently asked questions
What time should I arrive for a Supreme Court hearing?
Allow time for security screening and arrive at least 30 minutes before the time shown on the list. Several matters often share a single start time, so be in the courtroom when the list begins.
Why is my matter not on the ACT Supreme Court daily list?
It may have been vacated, moved to another day, or listed under a pseudonym or suppressed name. Check with your lawyer or ring the registry on (02) 6205 0000.
Can members of the public watch a trial?
Most Supreme Court hearings are held in open court and the public can sit in, unless the judge has closed the court or made an order limiting attendance. Follow the directions of the court officer in the courtroom.
Is the Childrens Court list shown here?
No. The Childrens Court is in the same building with its own entrance, but its lists are not republished on this site.