Koori Court

The Koori Court is a day set aside in the Magistrates’ Court to sentence adult Aboriginal offenders who plead guilty. The court hears all offences that are usually held in the Magistrates’ Court, with the exception of family violence and sexual offences.

The Koori Court is different from a normal court in several ways. Firstly, it is less formal. The judge sits at a table with everyone else, rather than at the bench.

Secondly, an Elder from the community advises the Magistrate on the sentence. There is also an Aboriginal Justice Officer attached to each Koori Court: Daniel Briggs at Shepparton, and Terrie Stewart at Broadmeadows.

The most important difference between the Koori Court and the normal court is that the Koori Court gives Indigenous people the chance to have a say. Offenders can talk about their past, and why they did things, and what they can do about it. Offenders’ families and community members can give their view.

Two Koori courts are currently operating in Victoria as part of a two-year pilot program - Shepparton and Broadmeadows. Until the program has been evaluated, there are no plans for an expansion of the Koori Courts.
The Koori court is based on the South Australian model of the Nunga Court, which operates in three locations in the state. Queensland also has one Aboriginal Court, the Murri Court in Brisbane.
The Koori, Nunga and Murri Court currently only deal with adult offenders. In South Australia, however, the possibility of introducing a juvenile Nunga Court is being discussed.

Elders at Shepparton: Aunty Rochelle Patten, Uncle Colin Walker, Aunty Kella Robinson, Uncle George Nelson, Aunty Merle Bamblett, Respected Persons, Paul Atkinson, Sonya Briggs

Elders at Broadmeadows: Frances Gallagher, Norma Langford, Kevin Coombs