| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| MALGIL, K** J** | Courtroom 1 | 9:00am |
| WHITE, N** J** | Courtroom 1 | 9:00am |
Last updated: 11 Sep 2026, 10:42 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Derby Courthouse sits on Loch Street in Derby, a small port town in the West Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. It is one of the most remote sitting venues in the WA courts network, serving a Shire that spans 104,080 square kilometres yet holds a population of only around 7,075 residents, with roughly 3,222 people living in Derby itself according to the 2021 Census. That combination of vast distance and small population shapes almost everything about how the court operates, from the frequency of sittings to the mix of matters heard on any given day.
The venue functions primarily as a Magistrates Court, and it is one node in a system that operates from more than 60 locations across the state. The Magistrates Court of Western Australia was established in its current form under the Magistrates Court Act 2004 (WA) and began operating in 2005. Statewide, the court processes about 43,000 civil matters each year, alongside a far larger volume of criminal and traffic work. In Derby, the daily caseload is modest by metropolitan standards, but the matters heard here carry the same legal weight as those listed at the busiest metropolitan registries.
Where the Derby Courthouse fits in the WA court hierarchy
Western Australia runs a three tier court structure. The Magistrates Court is the entry point for most matters, the District Court is the intermediate trial court, and the Supreme Court sits at the top. The Derby Courthouse hosts all three tiers at different points in the year, which is unusual for a regional venue and reflects the practical reality that residents of the West Kimberley cannot easily travel hundreds of kilometres to Perth for every hearing.
On a typical sitting day the Magistrates Court in Derby deals with summary criminal charges, minor civil claims, restraining order applications and traffic offences. The same bench also sits as the Children's Court when the accused is under 18, hearing summary criminal matters in a closed and youth focused setting. For anyone tracking a matter in this jurisdiction, the daily magistrates court list published for each venue is the quickest way to confirm a courtroom, a start time and a presiding officer.
Circuit sittings for the higher courts
Because Derby does not have resident District or Supreme Court judges, the higher courts reach the town through the circuit system. District Court civil, circuit and criminal sittings are listed to occur on eight occasions across the year, while Supreme Court civil, circuit and criminal sittings are scheduled on four occasions annually. The Derby courthouse also acts as a District Court registry, which means civil proceedings can be commenced locally rather than filed in Perth. The District Court itself was established on 1 April 1970 under the District Court Act 1969 (WA) and maintains 12 country registries, with Derby among them alongside Broome, Kununurra, Karratha and South Hedland.
Circuit scheduling in remote WA is not fixed in stone. The District Court has issued public notices in recent years covering updates and, at times, the suspension of the Derby and Esperance circuits. Anyone relying on a listed higher court date should confirm it close to the hearing, because a circuit that has been rescheduled can shift matters by weeks.
Contact details and location
The Derby Courthouse is located on Loch Street, Derby WA 6728. The registry can be reached by telephone on (08) 9191 1406, with an alternative departmental line listed as (08) 9191 2274. The registry email is derbycourt@justice.wa.gov.au, and the court operates under the Department of Justice (WA). Loch Street is also one of the oldest parts of Derby, and the surrounding precinct includes several state registered heritage places, including the Wharfingers House and the former Derby Police Gaol, which points to how long this street has been the administrative heart of the town.
Planning a trip to the court
- Arrive early, particularly on circuit days when the higher courts sit and the building carries a heavier load than usual.
- Confirm the sitting type before you travel, as Magistrates, District, Supreme and Children's Court matters are not heard every day.
- Bring identification and any documents relating to your matter, including bail papers or correspondence from the registry.
- Contact the registry in advance if you cannot attend, rather than simply failing to appear.
The Kimberley context
Derby is the council seat of the Shire of Derby–West Kimberley, one of only four local government areas in the Kimberley. The court serves not just the town but a large surrounding catchment, and in the wider region the Magistrates Court reaches communities through venues at Broome, Kununurra, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and Wyndham, along with remote community courts. This distributed model is why the WA Magistrates Court is often described as the most geographically widespread court in the country. If you are checking matters elsewhere in the north, the daily Kununurra court list covers the neighbouring East Kimberley venue.
Derby also houses the West Kimberley Regional Prison, which opened on 1 August 2012 and was designed for 150 prisoners, split as 120 male and 30 female places. The facility includes its own courtroom among its 42 buildings, a design choice that reflects both the distances involved and the significant proportion of Aboriginal people who come before the courts in this part of the state. The court itself acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waterways across Western Australia, and cultural considerations are a genuine part of how justice is delivered in the region.
How to read a Derby court list
Daily court lists use a consistent set of terms across Western Australia. Understanding them makes it far easier to work out what will happen on your date:
- Mention: a short procedural appearance where the matter is reviewed and the next step or date is set.
- Committal: a Magistrates Court step that decides whether a serious charge should proceed to the District or Supreme Court.
- Trial: the full hearing of evidence, which for indictable matters usually occurs during a circuit sitting.
- Sentencing: the stage where penalty is determined after a plea or finding of guilt.
For matters that begin in Derby but escalate, the pathway often leads to Broome or ultimately to Perth. Those following criminal or civil work at the state's principal registry can track the Supreme Court WA list for the most serious matters, while a general search of the daily court list for WA gives a single view across every venue in the state.
Frequently asked questions
What types of matters does the Derby Courthouse hear?
The venue hears summary criminal charges, minor civil claims, traffic matters, restraining orders and Children's Court matters through the Magistrates Court. District Court and Supreme Court matters are heard during scheduled circuit sittings, and the courthouse also serves as a District Court registry for commencing civil proceedings.
How often do the higher courts sit in Derby?
District Court sittings are listed on eight occasions across the year and Supreme Court sittings on four occasions. Because these are circuit dates, they can be rescheduled, so it is wise to confirm any higher court listing before travelling.
Where is the Derby Courthouse and how do I contact it?
It is on Loch Street, Derby WA 6728. The registry telephone number is (08) 9191 1406, and the email is derbycourt@justice.wa.gov.au.
Can I find out who is listed without attending in person?
Yes. The daily court list for the venue shows the parties, courtroom and sitting times, which lets you confirm details ahead of the hearing rather than relying on attendance alone.
Does the Derby Courthouse sit as a Children's Court?
Yes. The same Magistrates Court bench sits as the Children's Court to hear summary criminal matters where the accused is aged under 18, in a setting tailored to young people.
