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Hewlett-Packard

Toowoomba Court Visit Report

Due: 20th April 2012
Jace Taylor Ms Jones

2012

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Contents Page
Introduction and Fig. 1...page 3 Section 1................page 4 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 General nature of cases observed Specific details gathered Attitude ad tone of the magistrate/judge Attitude and tone of the legal advocates Language used by the legal personnel Behaviours in the court Punishments administrated

Conclusion..page 5 Appendix. 1.page 6

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Introduction
The court system in Queensland is separated into four levels of jurisdiction along with numerous tribunals set up to handle a variety of offences and altercations. The types of crime or arguments actuate in what court or tribunal will handle the affair. The for courts are the Court of Appeal, which deals with appeals from both civil and criminal convictions of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court, which deals with appeals from the District Court along with the most serious criminal offences and civil cases for amounts of $250 000 or more, the District Court, which deals with appeals from the Magistrates Court along with serious but lesser criminal offences than the Supreme Court and civil cases for amounts between $50 000 and $250 000, and the Magistrates Court, which deals with appeals from tribunals, civil cases for amounts less than $50 000 and minor criminal offences. The visit to the Toowoomba court in Hume Street on Tuesday the 13th of March was conducted to better the understanding of the court system to the Academic Academy as well as to witness the proceedings of multiple trials.

Fig. 1

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Section 1
1.1 There was an extensive assortment of matters that were observed on the stopover to the court, some precedents were: a man who stole back his own dog from the vet when he could not afford the bill, a man charged for the assault of his brother and drink driving. 1.2 A detailed description of one of the cases witnessed by the students of the Accelerated Academy: On the 15th of October, 2011 a Mr Andrew Rasmunen stole from a Veterinarian surg. at 12:30pm from 190 West Street, Toowoomba, the defendant pleaded guilty. 3 dogs had been bitten by a snake and taken to the vet. 2 of the canines died, where the remaining dog was administered anti venom and survived. The payment dispensed was $1888.80. The defendant couldnt pay at the time, but since has completely paid the charge in full. The defence counsellor explained to the magistrate that the defendant was married with 2 children. The death of a 3 rd child in 2010 influenced them to purchase the dogs for the anguished family. The reprimand he received 6 months ($400), G.B.Bond. 1.3 The attitude and tone of the magistrate (its the magistrate instead of a judge because there were no juries in the court room), in the court room where one group of students was located, was very terse and factual. He exuded business-like indifference and authority in the semi-small area. He seemed, at his brisk rate, like he would accept no disrespect or anybody impeding on the speed of the trial. An example of one of the ways the magistrate was respected was by being addressed as Your Honour at all times. 1.4 The attitude and tone of the legal advocates was much the same as the magistrate. They seemed to demand respect as well as emitting a calmness in the hasty procedure that you wouldnt expect from them if you compare them to how legal advocates are depicted in court rooms on television programs such as Law and Order. 1.5 The language used by the legal personnel in the court room was exceedingly factual, so much so that it was, at times, difficult to find the essence of the proceedings during the case. At other instances when, the prosecutor and the counsel of the defence are explaining how the defendant is guilty of the offence, how the defendant is innocent or pleading to lessen the punishment, that they speak very normally and are much easier to understand. When and if a defendant gives an affirmation they try to use complex adjectives to describe how deeply regretful they were for their offence. 1.6 The behaviour in the court room was subdued for most of the participants. At the back of the room, where observers of the case were situated, the people seemed very interested and intrigued by the happenings surrounding them. The Academic Academy students were all seemingly focused. And the defendants varied. One defendant gave the impression that he was very angry, but cocky that he would come out of it just fine. One seemed genuinely sorry that he did the wrong thing when another just looked nervous. But no one in the room disrupted anything or was physically or verbally violent. 1.7 There are many punishments administered in Queensland courts, these may vary according to the severity of the offences, criminal history and who they are executed to. Some examples are rehabilitation, deterrence, a good behaviour bond, community service, imprisonment and fines. Some of the punishments given on the sojourn to the Toowoomba Court were G.B.Bonds, rehabilitation, parole and fines.

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Conclusion
The Academic Academys visit to the Queensland Magistrates Court in Toowoomba, Hume Street, was very productive at showing the pupils a large variety of cases (or matters as all the participants in the cases call them) to help them with their civics studies of the legal system in Australia. For the writer of this report, Jace Taylor, there seems to be no evident way that the legal system she observed can be arranged in any particular fashion that was fairer to those who appear in court to have more felicitous outcomes.

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Appendix 1