Generally speaking, there are three levels of Court in Queensland.
The lowest level is the Magistrates Court which is convened by a Magistrate. All prosecutions commence in the Magistrates Court but the more serious charges are elevated to a higher Court.
The lesser offences such as traffic offences, drink driving, dangerous driving, minor assaults and the like are dealt with by a Magistrates Court.
The next highest court is the District Court which is convened by a Judge. The District Court handles the more serious criminal matters such as dangerous driving causing death, unlawful wounding, indecent dealing with a child etc. If you plead not guilty in the District Court it will be a jury which determines whether you are guilty or not guilty. It is the Judge’s task to ensure the trial proceeds fairly for all parties and importantly, to give detailed directions to the jury before they make their decision.
The highest Court is the Supreme Court. Examples of serious criminal matters dealt with by the Supreme Court include murder and serious drug offences.