Courts We Attend
Barsha Defence Lawyers is a specialist criminal defence firm with offices in Parramatta and Norwest. Our criminal lawyers appear at Local Courts, District Courts, the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeal, and the High Court across Sydney and New South Wales.
Each court page below includes the courthouse address, registry hours, transport and parking details, the types of criminal offences and traffic offences we defend at that court, and what to expect on the day of your appearance.
Sydney & Greater Western Sydney
Northern Sydney & Central Coast
Inner Sydney & Eastern Suburbs
Blue Mountains, Hunter & South Coast
Understanding the Different Court Levels in NSW
Not every criminal charge is dealt with in the same court. The court your matter is listed in depends on the seriousness of the offence and the stage of proceedings.
```Local Court
The Local Court of NSW is where the vast majority of criminal and traffic matters are heard. Summary offences and less serious indictable offences are dealt with by a magistrate sitting without a jury. This includes charges like common assault, drug possession, drink driving, AVO breaches, larceny, and most traffic offences. The Local Court also handles bail applications, AVO proceedings, and committal hearings for matters heading to the District Court.
The maximum penalty the Local Court can impose for a single offence is two years imprisonment. For multiple offences sentenced together, the maximum is five years.
You can check whether your matter is listed and which courtroom it is in through the NSW Online Registry.
Children's Court
The Children's Court of NSW deals with criminal charges against young people under 18. It operates under the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 and has different procedures and sentencing options compared to the adult court. Outcomes can include cautions, youth justice conferences, good behaviour bonds, and community service orders. The Children's Court sits at locations across Sydney, including Surry Hills and Parramatta.
District Court
The District Court of NSW handles serious indictable offences that are too serious for the Local Court. These include charges like drug supply, sexual assault, wounding with intent to cause GBH, armed robbery, and dangerous driving causing death. Trials in the District Court are heard before a judge and jury.
The District Court also hears appeals against conviction or sentence from the Local Court. A person convicted or sentenced at the Local Court can lodge an appeal under the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 to have the matter reheard.
District Court sittings relevant to our practice include Parramatta, Campbelltown, Penrith, the Downing Centre, Newcastle, Gosford, and Wollongong.
Supreme Court of NSW
The Supreme Court of NSW has unlimited criminal jurisdiction and deals with the most serious offences in the state, including murder and treason. It also handles bail applications that have been refused in the Local Court and District Court, and judicial review of decisions made by lower courts.
Court of Criminal Appeal
The Court of Criminal Appeal is a division of the Supreme Court. It hears appeals against conviction or sentence from the District Court and Supreme Court. An appeal to the CCA requires leave of the court and is argued on questions of law, not a rehearing of the facts.
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the final court of appeal in the Australian legal system. Criminal matters only reach the High Court on a grant of special leave, typically where the case raises a question of law of public importance.
Types of Matters We Defend Across NSW Courts
Our criminal lawyers handle the full range of criminal and traffic matters at every court we attend.
```Criminal Charges
Assault offences including common assault and assault occasioning ABH, domestic violence offences including AVO breaches and stalking or intimidation, drug offences from possession to supply, sexual offences, property offences including break and enter and larceny, fraud offences, firearm and weapon offences, and public disorder offences.
Traffic Charges
Drink driving, DUI, drug driving, driving whilst suspended or disqualified, negligent driving, dangerous driving, speeding, failing to stop, police pursuit, and licence appeals.
Applications
Bail applications, Section 14 mental health applications, MERIT program referrals, and section 10 non-conviction applications.
Whether you are pleading guilty or pleading not guilty, our criminal lawyers provide a fixed fee quote after reviewing your matter. We are available 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
```The court your matter is listed in depends on the seriousness of the offence. Summary offences and less serious indictable offences are dealt with in the Local Court by a magistrate. Serious indictable offences like drug supply, sexual assault, and wounding with intent are committed to the District Court for trial before a judge and jury. The most serious charges, including murder, are heard in the Supreme Court. Your Court Attendance Notice will tell you which court and date your matter is listed.
The Local Court handles summary offences, less serious indictable offences, traffic matters, bail applications, AVO proceedings, and committal hearings. A magistrate decides the case without a jury. The maximum penalty for a single offence is two years imprisonment. The District Court handles serious indictable offences like drug supply, sexual assault, armed robbery, and dangerous driving causing death. Trials are before a judge and jury. The District Court also hears appeals from Local Court decisions under the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001.
In many cases, yes. For eligible offences, the magistrate can dismiss the charge without recording a conviction under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. Whether this is achievable depends on the offence, your personal circumstances, and the material your criminal lawyer puts before the court. Section 10 outcomes are most common for first-time offenders charged with offences like drink driving, drug possession, or minor assault.
Not always. For procedural mentions and adjournments, your criminal lawyer can appear on your behalf under section 182 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986. You will need to attend in person for a plea, sentencing, defended hearing, or trial. Your lawyer will advise you well in advance about which dates require your attendance.
We offer a free initial consultation to review your charges and explain your options. After that, we provide a fixed fee quote so you know the total cost before you commit. Fees depend on the type of matter, including whether it is a guilty plea, defended hearing, bail application, or District Court trial.
We appear at 25 courts across Sydney and NSW, including Parramatta, Blacktown, Liverpool, Penrith, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Bankstown, Mount Druitt, Burwood, the Downing Centre, Sutherland, Hornsby, Manly, Gosford, Wyong, Newtown, Waverley, Surry Hills Children's Court, Katoomba, Windsor, Newcastle, Cessnock, Wollongong, Moss Vale, and Picton. We also appear at the District Court, Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeal, and the High Court.
A Section 14 application under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 allows the court to divert your matter away from the criminal justice system and into treatment. This is available where a diagnosed mental health condition or cognitive impairment was connected to the offending behaviour. If the application is successful, the charges can be dismissed and dealt with by way of a treatment plan rather than a criminal penalty.
Contact Our Criminal Lawyers
Free initial consultation for all criminal and traffic matters. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Parramatta NSW 2150
Norwest NSW 2153
