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Magistrate's Courts
At the lowest level of the court system of New England sit the Magistrate's Courts. This is where all criminal and many civil cases in New England first enter the court system, with 98% of all criminal and civil cases heard to finality in the Magistrate's Courts. The courts are presided over by a Magistrate.
Magistrate's Courts are divided into two divisions for the purpose of heaing cases. Criminal matters are heard by the Court of Common Pleas, while the Court of Petty Sessions hears minor civil cases.
Structure & Jurisdiction
Chief Magistrates
Magistrates are the legal officers presdfing of the court. Magistrates are salaried officers, and must be legally qualified and experienced to be eligible to be appointed. In New England, all magistrates are part of the College of Magistrates, which is led by two Chief Magistrates of New England. Unusually, there are two Chief Magistrates in New England, with each managing one of the subordinate courts.
The following is a list of Chief Magistrates:
| Chief Magistrates of New England | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court of Common Pleas | Court of Petty Sessions | ||||||
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | # | Name | Took Office | Left Office |
| 1 | Jillian Conder | 1 October 2012 | 9 May 2016 | 1 | Michael Barton | 1 October 2012 | 16 July 2015 |
| 2 | Robert Gordon | 9 May 2016 | 14 November 2021 | 2 | Ian Montgomery | 16 July 2015 | 30 October 2020 |
| 3 | Peter Gowrie | 14 November 2021 | 23 October 2028 | 3 | Naomi Rogers | 30 October 2020 | 31 July 2027 |
| 4 | Lucinda Banks | 23 October 2028 | 2 January 2033 | 4 | John Wratten | 31 July 2027 | 17 February 2034 |
| 5 | Samuel Theodore | 2 January 2033 | 12 September 2040 | 5 | Daniel McNamara | 17 February 2034 | 21 December 2039 |
| 6 | James Bonython | 12 September 2040 | 18 November 2048 | 6 | Martin Buchanan | 21 December 2039 | 3 May 2046 |
| 7 | Alexander Gilmore | 18 November 2048 | Incumbent | 7 | Isabella Campbell | 3 May 2046 | Incumbent |
Judiciary of New England
Magistrate's Courts · County Court · Crown Court · Supreme Court
