No 4 of 2005 - Magistrates Court – Form of Address
Pursuant to the Magistrates Court Act 1987 section 15AA, I issue the following Practice Direction in relation to the Magistrates Court.
On and from 1 January, 2006, the form of address to the officer constituting the Magistrates Court will be ‘Your Honour’.
The new form of address will apply to all courts (not tribunals) constituted by a magistrate or by one or more justices of the peace.
A G Shott
Chief Magistrate
23 December 2005
NOTE TO PRACTICE DIRECTION:
There are several reasons for the change in the form of address from ‘Your Worship’ to ‘Your Honour’:
- it will bring the Magistrates Court of Tasmania into line with all other State and Territory Magistrates Courts as well as the Federal Magistrates Court,
- the current form is archaic,
- the new form of address is almost invariably used by defendants and witnesses, and
- the change will reduce confusion within the justice system.
The Attorney-General, the Honourable Judy Jackson, MHA, and the Judges of the Supreme Court support the change.