| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| DIGHTON, A** V O** I** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| ROTE, R** V P** L** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| BAYLISS, L** V M** L** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
Last updated: 11 Sep 2026, 10:33 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Wodonga Magistrates' Court sits at 5 Elgin Boulevard, Wodonga Victoria 3690, serving one of the busiest regional legal catchments in the state's north-east. Positioned directly on the Victoria–New South Wales border, the court handles matters for residents across Wodonga, the twin city of Albury, Chiltern, Tallangatta and the wider Upper Hume region. If you are looking for the Wodonga court list today, this page brings together the daily hearing details, contact information and practical guidance you need before your matter is called, updated in line with the official listings published by the Magistrates' Court of Victoria.
The Magistrates' Court is the entry point for the overwhelming majority of legal matters in the state. Across Victoria, the Magistrates' Court handles roughly 90 per cent of all cases that come before the Victorian court system, operating from more than 51 venues that stretch from inner-city Melbourne to remote communities in the Mallee, Gippsland and the Western District. Wodonga is one of these venues, and its daily list reflects the same broad mix of criminal, civil, family violence and traffic work seen at larger regional centres such as Bendigo, Shepparton and Geelong.
What the Wodonga Magistrates' Court hears
The criminal jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court hears and determines all summary offences, some indictable offences that can be heard summarily, and conducts committal hearings for serious indictable matters that will ultimately be tried in a higher court. This means the vast bulk of the Wodonga list on any given day involves summary offences, bail applications, pleas, mentions and contest mention hearings. To put the scale in perspective, the Magistrates' Court of Victoria sentenced 85,462 cases across the state in 2023–24, and between July 2004 and June 2024 it sentenced an average of 83,587 cases each year, according to the Sentencing Advisory Council.
The court also carries a substantial civil workload. The Magistrates' Court can hear civil disputes up to the value of $100,000 arising from debts, claims for damages, other monetary disputes or equitable relief. Matters above that threshold generally proceed to the County Court, which conducts circuit sittings in Wodonga several times a year for more serious criminal trials and larger civil claims. Wodonga is one of twelve regional circuit locations for the County Court of Victoria, alongside Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Morwell, Sale, Shepparton, Wangaratta and Warrnambool.
Intervention orders and family violence matters
Two types of intervention orders can be made in the Magistrates' Court: family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These applications form a significant and growing part of the regional court workload, and Wodonga hears both. It is important to note that family violence intervention order and personal safety intervention order hearings are not published in the online hearing search, so you will not find these matters on the searchable daily list. If your matter concerns an intervention order, the court registry and duty support services can direct you to the correct courtroom on the day.
Specialist court programs at Wodonga
Wodonga operates several specialist and support programs that reflect a therapeutic approach to justice. The court hosts a Koori Court, which is designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have taken responsibility and pleaded guilty to a criminal offence, allowing Elders and Respected Persons to participate in the sentencing conversation. The court also delivers the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP), which provides support for eligible accused persons on bail by addressing underlying factors such as housing instability, mental health and substance dependence. Programs of this kind operate across the state and are a core part of how regional courts manage risk and reduce reoffending.
Finding the Wodonga court list today
The daily court list tells you which matters are being heard, in which courtroom, and at what time. For Wodonga, the list is generated through the Magistrates' Court of Victoria's case management system and published each sitting day. A significant change took effect on 30 June 2026, when the CMS Portal Hearing Search replaced the criminal and civil components of the former Electronic Filing and Appearance System (EFAS). Lawyers now use the CMS Portal to add representation, enter an appearance and proposed hearing time, and search for and track matters in the criminal and civil jurisdictions. If you have used EFAS in the past, the CMS Portal is now the current system for these tasks.
You can search the list by name, by court and by date. To track a specific matter, enter the case number and case type, or search using the surname of the defendant, accused or respondent. Members of the public are entitled to attend most hearings, since the principle of open justice underpins the Victorian court system, though some matters are closed and Children's Court lists are not published online due to statutory restrictions on identifying young people.
Where the court sits and how to get there
The Wodonga courthouse is located at 5 Elgin Boulevard in the centre of Wodonga, roughly a fifteen-minute drive from the railway station. Street parking is available, along with a public car park opposite the court, and a bicycle rack is provided on the side of the building next to the car park. The postal address for correspondence is PO Box 50, Wodonga Victoria 3690. Because the court draws from both sides of the Murray River, many people attending have travelled from Albury and surrounding New South Wales towns, so allowing extra time for parking and security screening is wise.
Facilities and accessibility
The Wodonga Magistrates' Court is equipped to support a range of needs. Facilities include an Audio Visual Link (AVL) for remote appearances, a hearing loop for people with hearing aids, wheelchair access, accessible toilets and a remote witness facility for vulnerable witnesses who should not have to give evidence in the same room as an accused person. If you require an interpreter, this can be arranged through the court, and it should be requested in advance wherever possible.
Preparing for your hearing
Arriving well before your listed time is the single most useful thing you can do. Court lists can move, matters are sometimes brought forward, and security screening takes time. The following points will help you prepare:
- Check the daily list on the morning of your hearing, as courtroom allocations and times can change late.
- Bring identification and any documents, notices or correspondence relating to your matter.
- Dress neatly and plan to switch your phone to silent before entering the courtroom.
- Arrive early to clear security, find your courtroom and speak with a duty lawyer if one is available.
- If you cannot attend, seek legal advice immediately, as failing to appear can result in a warrant or a matter being decided in your absence.
Free and low-cost legal help is available for many people appearing in the Magistrates' Court. Duty lawyers, community legal centres and Victoria Legal Aid can provide guidance on your rights and options, and the court's support services can point you towards the right assistance on the day.
The Wodonga court in the wider Victorian system
Understanding where Wodonga fits within the state's court network helps explain how your matter may progress. Victoria has the second-busiest court system in Australia after New South Wales, serving a population of more than 6.7 million people. The Magistrates' Court divides its venues into thirteen regions, each built around a headquarter court with a cluster of smaller courts around it. Matters that begin at Wodonga as summary hearings may, if serious enough, be committed to the County Court, and appeals can travel upward to the higher courts. For a broader view of every sitting venue and the specialist programs available across the state, the Victoria court lists hub brings the full picture together in one place.
Nearby courts in the north-east circuit include Wangaratta, Benalla and Shepparton, and matters are sometimes transferred or adjourned between these venues depending on availability and circumstances. If your hearing is elsewhere in the region, you can find the relevant daily list for the Wangaratta Magistrates' Court or check the Shepparton Magistrates' Court list directly. For serious indictable matters heard on circuit, the County Court of Victoria handles trials and larger civil claims that fall outside the Magistrates' Court threshold.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the Wodonga Magistrates' Court open?
Magistrates' Court sittings in Victoria generally begin at 9:30am on sitting days, with the registry counter open during standard business hours. Because Wodonga does not sit every weekday, always confirm the sitting day and time on the current daily list before you travel, and arrive early to allow for security screening.
How do I find out if my matter is listed today?
Search the daily list by your surname, the court location and the date. For criminal and civil matters you can also track your case using the case number and case type through the CMS Portal Hearing Search, which replaced the equivalent EFAS functions from 30 June 2026. Intervention order hearings are not published online, so contact the registry if your matter concerns one.
What is the difference between the Magistrates' Court and the County Court in Wodonga?
The Magistrates' Court hears summary offences, committals, civil disputes up to $100,000 and intervention orders, and it sits regularly at Wodonga. The County Court is the principal trial court for serious indictable offences and larger civil claims, and it visits Wodonga on circuit. Most matters begin in the Magistrates' Court, and only the most serious proceed to the County Court.
Can I get legal help before my hearing?
Yes. Duty lawyers are often available at court, and Victoria Legal Aid and local community legal centres can assist eligible people. Seeking advice early, rather than on the morning of your hearing, gives you the best chance of understanding your options and preparing properly.
Who can attend a hearing at the Wodonga court?
Most hearings are open to the public under the principle of open justice, so members of the public and media may generally attend. Some matters are closed by law, and Children's Court proceedings are not published or open in the same way because young people's identities are protected. If in doubt, ask court staff on the day.
