The Devonport Magistrates Court is the principal venue for summary criminal justice across Tasmania's north-west, sitting at 8 Griffith Street, Devonport TAS 7310. As one of only four full-time courthouses operated by the Magistrates Court of Tasmania, alongside Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, it hears the daily criminal and general list for a catchment that includes Devonport and the surrounding Mersey region. If you have a matter listed here, the Devonport criminal court list published on CourtListAU shows the defendant name, the presiding magistrate, the courtroom and the scheduled time so you can plan your appearance with confidence rather than arriving unsure of where to be.
Devonport is the fourth-largest urban centre in Tasmania, with a population of roughly 26,150 recorded at the 2021 Census. It sits about 98 kilometres from Launceston and 277 kilometres from Hobart, which makes the local courthouse an essential access point for justice services in the north-west. The registry operates from 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, and the general enquiry line is 1300 366 611. It is worth noting there is no free public parking at or immediately adjacent to the court, so allowing extra travel time is sensible if you are attending in person.
What the Devonport criminal court list covers
The daily criminal list at Devonport is drawn from the Criminal and General Division of the Magistrates Court of Tasmania. This division deals with summary offences, which are matters where the defendant does not have the option of a jury trial, as well as certain indictable offences that can lawfully be dealt with summarily. In practice, that means the Devonport list is where most everyday criminal matters begin, including traffic offences, minor assaults, theft, drug possession, public order matters and breaches of court orders.
The Magistrates Court also conducts committal and preliminary proceedings for more serious charges that are ultimately destined for the Supreme Court of Tasmania. Tasmania runs a distinctive two-tier court structure, with no intermediate District or County Court of the kind found on the mainland. The Magistrates Court handles the high-volume, day-to-day work, while the Supreme Court hears the most serious criminal trials and acts as the state's highest appellate court. Because of this streamlined hierarchy, the Devonport court list carries a broader range of matters than an equivalent local court would in New South Wales or Queensland.
Sentencing powers of a Tasmanian magistrate
Under section 13 of the Sentencing Act 1997, the maximum penalty a magistrate can impose for a single offence is three years imprisonment for a first offence, and five years imprisonment for a second or subsequent offence. Many summary offences carry considerably shorter maximum penalties, and some are punishable by a fine only. A person found guilty of a summary offence in Tasmania may be sentenced to a fine, a good behaviour bond, a community service order, or a term of imprisonment, depending on the seriousness of the conduct and the individual circumstances.
Tasmanian courts also retain a discretion under section 9 of the Sentencing Act 1997 as to whether or not to record a conviction. That discretion can be significant for a defendant whose future employment or travel might be affected by a formal criminal record, and it is one of the reasons legal representation can materially change an outcome at the Devonport Magistrates Court.
Statistics that show how busy the Tasmanian courts have become
The scale of criminal work moving through Tasmania's magistrates' courts has grown sharply in recent years, and the north-west shares in that pressure. The Magistrates Court of Tasmania Annual Report for 2023-2024 recorded 15,109 criminal cases lodged against adults, an increase of 4.7 per cent on the previous year. Of those, 13,398 criminal matters were finalised in the same period, which illustrates how lodgements have been outpacing finalisations across the state.
Backlog data underlines the strain. As at 30 June 2024, there were 8,767 matters pending completion across Tasmania's four magistrates' courts, and 21 per cent of those were more than 12 months old. Reported reasons for delay include disclosure issues, the availability of counsel, and the time needed for expert reports to be completed before sentencing decisions can be made. The Magistrates Court also records one of the highest attendance rates among comparable Australian courts, with an average of 5.7 attendances per finalisation in criminal matters, according to a recent third-party review of court backlogs.
More recent figures point to continued growth. Reporting on the 2024-2025 year describes the court processing over 37,000 new cases and recording 205,298 individual listings, with adult criminal lodgements rising by 14.8 per cent and adult criminal breach applications increasing by 22.9 per cent on the previous year. Family violence matters have also climbed steeply, with 2,259 Family Violence Order applications lodged in 2024-2025, a 24 per cent rise on the prior year and a 64.8 per cent increase across five years. These numbers help explain why an accurate, up-to-date daily list is so valuable to the people, lawyers and support workers who rely on it.
How to read and use the daily court list
Court lists for Tasmania are typically published in the late afternoon so that parties can confirm arrangements for the following day. Each entry on the Devonport criminal list identifies the matter and its scheduled courtroom, though in some cases a defendant's name is withheld under section 194K of the Evidence Act 2001 where publication could identify a witness or victim. When you see a withheld name, that suppression is a legal protection rather than an error in the listing.
To get the most from the list, check it the evening before your court date and again on the morning of your appearance in case there have been overnight changes. Arrive early, allow for the lack of nearby parking, and bring any paperwork connected to your matter. If your name is not where you expect it, speak with registry staff or your legal representative rather than leaving the precinct, because matters can be moved between rooms or rescheduled at short notice.
Who relies on the Devonport list
- Defendants and their families, confirming appearance times and courtroom locations before travelling in from across the north-west.
- Legal practitioners and duty lawyers, planning their day across multiple matters and clients.
- Support and welfare services, coordinating attendance for clients who may need assistance on the day.
- Witnesses and interested parties, checking whether a matter is proceeding as scheduled.
Devonport in the wider Tasmanian court network
Because the north-west is served by more than one registry, it helps to understand how Devonport fits alongside the neighbouring courthouses. Criminal matters in the region may be listed at Devonport or at nearby Burnie, while civil matters follow their own separate lists. If your matter is a civil dispute rather than a criminal charge, the Devonport civil court list is the correct place to look. For criminal matters heard further along the north-west coast, the Burnie criminal court list covers that registry, and matters in the north of the state appear on the Launceston criminal court list.
For a complete picture of every registry across the state, including Hobart in the south, the full set of Tasmania court lists brings each daily criminal and civil list together in one place. This makes it straightforward to follow a matter that moves between locations, or to check a related case in a different part of Tasmania without hunting across multiple sources.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Devonport Magistrates Court located?
The court is at 8 Griffith Street, Devonport TAS 7310, in Tasmania's north-west. The registry is open from 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. There is no free public parking at or near the courthouse, so plan your arrival accordingly.
What types of cases are heard at Devonport criminal court?
The Devonport criminal list handles summary offences such as traffic matters, minor assaults, theft and drug possession, along with indictable offences that can be dealt with summarily, bail applications, and committal proceedings for serious charges heading to the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
When are the daily court lists published?
Tasmanian court lists are generally published in the late afternoon for the following day, so it is best to check the evening before and again on the morning of your appearance in case a matter has been moved or rescheduled.
What is the maximum penalty a magistrate can impose in Tasmania?
Under section 13 of the Sentencing Act 1997, a magistrate can impose up to three years imprisonment for a single first offence, and up to five years for a second or subsequent offence. Many offences carry lower maximums, and magistrates may also order fines, bonds or community service.
Why is a defendant's name sometimes withheld on the list?
Names may be withheld under section 194K of the Evidence Act 2001 where publication could lead to the identification of a witness or victim. This is a legal safeguard, and the matter is still listed and proceeding as normal.
Does Devonport hear civil matters as well?
Yes, but civil matters appear on a separate list. The Magistrates Court deals with civil disputes involving amounts of up to $50,000, and these are published under the Devonport civil listing rather than the criminal and general list.