The Supreme Court of Western Australia sits in Broome as part of its regional circuit program, bringing the state's highest court to one of the most remote judicial regions in Australia. When the Supreme Court convenes at the Broome Courthouse on Hamersley Street, it hears the most serious criminal trials and complex civil matters arising across the Kimberley, a region spanning more than 423,000 square kilometres yet home to roughly 34,000 permanent residents. For legal practitioners, accused persons, families, and community members following a matter, knowing when the Supreme Court list is published and what appears on it is essential, because circuit sittings run for defined periods rather than continuously throughout the year.
Broome is the largest town in the Kimberley, with a population of 14,660 recorded at the 2021 census and a Shire population of close to 17,000. It lies 2,046 kilometres north of Perth, which makes it one of the most isolated centres where superior court proceedings are conducted anywhere in the country. Because the David Malcolm Justice Centre and the historic Supreme Court Building in Perth cannot practically serve litigants more than 2,000 kilometres away, the circuit model exists to carry the court to the community. This page explains how the Supreme Court operates in Broome, what kinds of cases are listed, and how to read the daily court list quickly and accurately.
What the Supreme Court of Western Australia does in Broome
The Supreme Court is the highest court in Western Australia and holds responsibility for both criminal and civil jurisdiction. It is divided into two divisions, the General Division and the Court of Appeal. In Broome, sittings are conducted by the General Division, which hears the most serious offences such as murder, manslaughter, and large-scale drug offences, along with high-value civil disputes. Most civil trials in Western Australia are heard without a jury, while serious criminal trials are decided by a jury of 12 members of the community.
The court was established on 18 June 1861, when the Court of Quarter Sessions and the Civil Court were amalgamated under the Supreme Court Ordinance 1861, with Sir Archibald Burt appointed as the first Chief Justice. More than 160 years later, the same court that presides over Perth's landmark trials also travels north to hear Kimberley matters, ensuring residents of Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, and the surrounding communities are not required to travel thousands of kilometres to have serious matters determined.
How circuit sittings work in the Kimberley
Circuit sittings of the Supreme Court and the District Court are conducted regularly at regional centres including Broome, South Hedland, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, and Albany. Rather than maintaining a resident superior court judge in every regional town, the court schedules blocks of sitting time during which a visiting judge hears the trials and applications that have accumulated for that location. This is why the Broome Supreme Court list can appear busy during a sitting period and empty between them. In September 2022, 26 judges of the District, Supreme, and Federal Courts travelled to the Kimberley for a cultural immersion program hosted by the University of Notre Dame in Broome, reflecting the ongoing effort to connect the judiciary with the communities it serves.
Circuit scheduling in remote Western Australia is subject to change. The court system has periodically issued public notices updating criminal sittings in remote and regional areas, and some circuits have been temporarily suspended or rescheduled. Anyone relying on a listing should confirm the current sitting dates before travelling, particularly during the wet season between December and April, when access to the Kimberley can be disrupted by heavy rainfall and cyclone activity.
Reading the Broome Supreme Court list
A daily court list is the official schedule of matters set down to be heard on a given day. For the Supreme Court in Broome, the list will typically identify the case name or the accused, the presiding judicial officer, the courtroom, the scheduled start time, and the type of matter, such as a trial, a directions hearing, a sentencing, or an appeal-related listing. Reading the list correctly saves practitioners and members of the public from arriving at the wrong time or the wrong venue.
- Case or party name: criminal matters are usually listed under the surname of the accused, while civil matters appear under the parties to the dispute.
- Matter type: trials, pleas, sentencing, bail applications, and directions hearings each proceed differently and take different amounts of time.
- Time and courtroom: circuit sittings often use the Broome Courthouse facilities shared with the Magistrates Court and District Court, so the courtroom allocation matters.
- Judicial officer: the visiting Supreme Court judge presiding over the sitting is generally noted on the list.
Because circuit lists are compiled around a compressed sitting period, matters can be brought forward, adjourned, or reallocated at short notice. Checking the most recent version of the list on the morning of the hearing is the safest practice.
Where the Broome Courthouse is located
The Broome Courthouse is situated on Hamersley Street, Broome WA 6725, in the centre of town. The same complex accommodates Magistrates Court sittings and visiting higher court proceedings, including District Court and Supreme Court circuits. The registry ordinarily operates from 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. As a shared regional facility, the courthouse plays a central role in delivering justice services across a remote and culturally diverse region, where a significant proportion of the population identifies as Aboriginal.
The Western Australian court hierarchy at a glance
Understanding where the Supreme Court sits within the broader structure helps explain which matters reach Broome's superior court list. Western Australia operates a three-tier hierarchy for general matters, supported by specialist courts and tribunals.
- Magistrates Court: the entry point for summary offences, committals, and restraining orders. It is the most geographically widespread court in the country, operating from more than 60 venues across the state.
- District Court: the intermediate trial court, dealing with serious indictable offences and civil claims up to $750,000, with unlimited jurisdiction in personal injury damages. It maintains country registries in 12 regional locations, including Broome.
- Supreme Court: the highest court in the state, hearing the most serious criminal offences and civil disputes typically exceeding $750,000, along with complex commercial, equity, and probate matters. Its decisions may be appealed to the High Court of Australia, subject to special leave.
The Court of Appeal, which forms the second division of the Supreme Court, hears both civil and criminal appeals from the General Division, the District Court, and the State Administrative Tribunal, and sits in the original Supreme Court Building in Perth. Appeals from Broome circuit matters are therefore generally heard back in the capital rather than on circuit.
Court activity across Western Australia by the numbers
The scale of court work in Western Australia illustrates why efficient access to accurate listings matters. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 81,454 defendants finalised in Western Australian criminal courts during the 2024-25 financial year, comprising 16 per cent of all defendants nationally. The rate of defendants finalised reached 3,057 per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over. Traffic and vehicle offences were the most common principal offence at 35 per cent, or 28,615 defendants, followed by theft at 11 per cent.
At the trial court level, criminal case lodgements in the Magistrates Court of Western Australia reached 104,002 in 2024-25, up from 93,180 the previous year, an increase of almost 12 per cent. The District Court finalised 405 criminal cases and 49 civil cases by trial over the same period. These figures underline the volume of matters moving through the system in a state that covers roughly one-third of the Australian continent, and they explain why a centralised, searchable platform for court listings has become valuable for legal professionals, support workers, and the public alike.
Why remote access to court listings matters in the Kimberley
The Kimberley's geography creates practical barriers to justice that few other Australian regions face. With Broome positioned more than 2,000 kilometres from Perth and surrounded by communities connected by long stretches of highway and unsealed roads, timely information about when a matter is listed can determine whether a witness, family member, or support worker is able to attend. During the peak tourist season, Broome's population swells dramatically, adding further pressure on local services during certain months. For those following a Supreme Court circuit matter, being able to check listings online rather than telephoning or attending the registry in person is a meaningful improvement in access to justice.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Supreme Court sit permanently in Broome?
No. The Supreme Court conducts circuit sittings in Broome during scheduled periods rather than sitting continuously. Between circuits, serious matters may be listed in Perth or held over until the next sitting. Always confirm the current circuit dates before making arrangements.
What kinds of cases does the Supreme Court hear in Broome?
The Broome circuit of the Supreme Court hears the most serious criminal trials, including offences such as homicide and serious drug matters, along with complex or high-value civil disputes. Less serious matters are dealt with in the District Court or Magistrates Court.
Where is the Supreme Court held in Broome?
Supreme Court circuit proceedings are held at the Broome Courthouse on Hamersley Street, Broome WA 6725, the same complex used for Magistrates Court and District Court sittings.
How can I find out if a matter is listed today?
Check the current daily court list for the relevant courthouse and jurisdiction. Because circuit lists change frequently, review the latest version on the morning of the hearing and confirm the courtroom and start time.
Can Supreme Court decisions made in Broome be appealed?
Yes. Decisions of the General Division may be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Perth, and Supreme Court decisions may ultimately be appealed to the High Court of Australia, subject to special leave being granted.
For matters that fall below the Supreme Court threshold, many serious indictable offences arising in the Kimberley are instead heard at the WA District Court Broome Courthouse, while summary matters, committals, and restraining order applications are dealt with at the Broome Magistrates Court. If you are following proceedings elsewhere in the state, our full directory of Western Australia court listings covers every tier and regional venue. You can also review the principal registry of the state's highest court through the WA Supreme Court Building listings in Perth.