| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| D**, S** OR DISPOSE | Court 2 | 10:00AM |
Last updated: 07 Sep 2026, 10:31 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Port Adelaide Magistrates Court is the busiest suburban criminal court serving the western and north-western suburbs of metropolitan Adelaide, and this page gives you the live criminal court list for Port Adelaide so you can find a hearing, a defendant name, a courtroom and a listing time in seconds. If you are due to appear, supporting someone who is, or simply checking whether a matter is being heard today, the daily listing published here is drawn from the same scheduling data used by the Courts Administration Authority of South Australia, refreshed so that you are working from current information rather than a printout that may already be out of date.
Located at 260 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide, South Australia 5015, the court sits within the historic Port Adelaide precinct and hears a broad mix of summary and minor indictable criminal matters. Understanding how the list is structured, what the abbreviations mean, and what happens on a first appearance will help you arrive prepared. The sections below explain the court's criminal jurisdiction, the practical details of attending, and how to read the daily listing accurately.
Port Adelaide criminal court list: what today's listing shows
The criminal court list for Port Adelaide displays every criminal matter scheduled to be called on a given sitting day. Each entry typically identifies the defendant's name, the courtroom or court number, the scheduled time, the presiding magistrate where allocated, and the type of appearance, such as a first mention, an adjourned mention, a committal, a bail application or a sentencing. Reading the list from top to bottom lets you locate a name quickly, while the time column tells you when to be seated and ready.
Criminal listings at this court change throughout the day as matters are stood down, adjourned or brought forward. A case shown for 10:00am may be called later if an earlier matter runs long, so it is sensible to arrive early and remain contactable. If you cannot find a matter you expected to see, it may have been transferred to another suburban registry such as Elizabeth Magistrates Court or resolved before the sitting day.
Common listing types you will see
- First mention: the initial appearance after a charge, where the matter is identified and the accused is asked how they intend to proceed.
- Adjourned mention: a return date set to allow time for legal advice, disclosure of the prosecution brief, or negotiations.
- Committal: the process by which serious indictable charges are prepared for transfer to a higher court.
- Bail application: a request to be released, or to vary conditions, pending the outcome of the matter.
- Sentencing: the hearing at which penalty is determined after a guilty plea or finding of guilt.
Jurisdiction of the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court
The Magistrates Court is the lowest tier of the South Australian court system and the entry point for the overwhelming majority of criminal prosecutions in the state. It was first established in 1837 as the Court of Petty Sessions and now operates under the Magistrates Court Act 1991 (SA). In its criminal jurisdiction the court deals with summary offences and minor indictable offences, and it conducts the committal process for serious indictable matters before they move to the District or Supreme Court.
Summary offences heard at Port Adelaide commonly include driving and traffic matters, minor assaults, disorderly behaviour, drug possession, dishonesty offences and breaches of intervention orders. A magistrate sitting in this jurisdiction can impose fines, good behaviour bonds, community-based orders and terms of imprisonment. Because a single magistrate hears and determines these matters without a jury, cases generally move more quickly here than in the higher courts, which is one reason magistrates courts carry the largest share of the national caseload.
The scale of that workload is significant. Across Australia in 2024-25 there were 750,028 criminal matters lodged and 725,538 finalised across the Supreme, District, Magistrates' and Children's courts, with magistrates courts handling the largest proportion of both. In the same year, 521,632 defendants were finalised across all Australian criminal courts, and of the defendants whose charges resulted in a court judgement, 95 per cent had a guilty outcome. These figures underline why suburban registries like Port Adelaide sit at the front line of the justice system.
Specialist lists and programs at this court
Port Adelaide is more than a general criminal registry. It hosts a Youth Court, a Diversion Court, the Nunga Court (an Aboriginal Sentencing Court) and a Family Violence Court, alongside on-site support from Aboriginal Justice Officers, the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and the Legal Services Commission. A Justice of the Peace attends, and the University of South Australia runs a free legal advice clinic on Fridays. These services matter because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain over-represented in the criminal courts relative to their share of the community, and dedicated sentencing courts are one response to that imbalance.
Attending court at 260 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide
The courthouse is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Registry enquiries can be made by phone on +61 8 8204 2444 or Freecall 1800 571 191, and correspondence for the Registrar can be sent to PO Box 3215, Port Adelaide, South Australia 5015. Free off-street car parking is available nearby, and the Outer Harbor railway line serves the Port Adelaide station on Commercial Road, a short walk west of the courthouse.
On-site facilities include interview rooms, in-court amplification systems for those with hearing difficulties, baby changing facilities, vending machines and accessible access. If you require an interpreter, arrange one through the registry in advance, as the court does not automatically provide language services for every matter. Planning your arrival around the published sitting time, rather than the exact minute your matter is listed, reduces the risk of missing a call.
What to bring and how to conduct yourself
- Photo identification and any paperwork you have received about the charge or hearing.
- Contact details for your lawyer or duty solicitor if you have one.
- Any documents the court has asked you to produce, such as references or medical reports for sentencing.
- Appropriate, respectful dress, and enough time to pass through any security screening.
Silence your phone before entering the courtroom, stand when the magistrate enters and leaves, and address the magistrate as "Your Honour". If you are unsure where to go, court staff at the registry counter can direct you to the correct courtroom once you have located your matter on the list.
What happens on a first appearance
A first mention is usually short. The magistrate confirms your identity, ensures you understand the charge, and asks whether you intend to plead guilty or not guilty, or whether you need time to seek legal advice. Many defendants ask for an adjournment at this stage so they can speak with a lawyer or obtain the prosecution brief. If you plead not guilty, the matter is typically adjourned for a further hearing or set down for trial. If you plead guilty, the court may proceed to sentence on the day or adjourn for reports.
Free legal help is often available at court through the duty solicitor scheme operated by the Legal Services Commission, though duty solicitors cannot represent everyone and priority is given to those in custody or facing serious outcomes. For anything beyond a straightforward mention, obtaining your own advice before the sitting day is strongly advisable. Knowing whether your matter is criminal or civil also matters, because the two streams are listed separately; civil disputes at this registry appear on the Christies Beach civil listings pattern used across suburban courts rather than on the criminal list shown here.
How Port Adelaide fits within the South Australian court system
Matters that are too serious for summary determination are committed from Port Adelaide to the District Court of South Australia, established in 1969 as the state's principal trial court, or in the most serious cases to the Supreme Court. Appeals from decisions of a magistrate are heard by the higher courts. If you are trying to trace a matter that has moved up the system, or you are checking listings for related proceedings, the Adelaide Magistrates Court criminal list is the central city registry where many escalated and cross-listed matters are heard.
For a state-wide view of every South Australian registry, including regional and circuit locations, the South Australia court list hub brings together criminal and civil listings for courts across the state in one place. That overview is useful when a defendant's matters are spread across multiple locations or when you are unsure which registry is hearing a particular case.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find today's criminal court list for Port Adelaide?
The daily criminal listing on this page shows matters scheduled at 260 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide. Search or scroll for the defendant's name, then note the courtroom and time. Listings can change during the day, so check again close to the sitting time if a matter does not appear where you expect.
What types of cases are heard at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court?
The court hears summary criminal offences such as traffic matters, minor assaults, drug possession and dishonesty offences, along with committals for serious indictable charges, bail applications and sentencing. It also runs a Youth Court, Diversion Court, Nunga Court and Family Violence Court.
What are the court's opening hours and contact details?
The registry is open 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. You can call +61 8 8204 2444 or Freecall 1800 571 191, or email portadelaide@courts.sa.gov.au for enquiries.
Do I need a lawyer to appear at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court?
You are entitled to represent yourself, but legal advice is recommended for anything beyond a simple mention. A duty solicitor may be available at court for urgent help, and the University of South Australia runs a free legal advice clinic on Fridays.
Where do I park and how do I get there by public transport?
Free off-street parking is available nearby. By public transport, the Outer Harbor railway line stops at Port Adelaide station on Commercial Road, a short walk west of the courthouse.
What is the difference between a mention and a trial?
A mention is a brief administrative appearance where the matter is identified and next steps are set, while a trial is a full hearing where evidence is tested and the magistrate decides guilt. Most matters are resolved at the mention stage without proceeding to trial.
