Attending Court

Locations

 The Supreme Court of Victoria’s offices and courtrooms are located in a number of buildings. You can check which building you are to attend through the Daily List, which appears on this website from 4.30pm the previous sitting day.

 

  • The main building is located at 210 William Street, where Courts 1 to 15 can be found.
  • The Court of Appeal building, 459 Lonsdale Street, accommodates the Green, Red and Blue Courts.
  • The Old High Court building is located at 450 Little Bourke Street, where Old High Courts 1 to 3 and the Court of Appeal Registry are located.
  • The Associate Judges sit in courtrooms 1 to 6 located on the Ground Floor, 436 Lonsdale Street.
  • The Supreme Court Registry, comprising the Prothonotary's Office, Probate Office are located at 436 Lonsdale Street.
  • Senior Master’s (Funds in Court) Office, is located at 469 Latrobe Street. 
  • The Juries Commissioner's Office, including the jury pool room, is located on the Ground Floor, 250 William Street (County Court building).

 As security and scanning surveillance takes place on every person there is sometimes a queue of people waiting to enter via the entrances at 210 William and 485 Lonsdale Streets during peak times (9.00-10.30am and 1.30-2.30pm). Please note the Conditions of Entry below.

For wheelchair access, please enter via the Lonsdale Street where a security officer is located.

 Hours

The court is open from 9.00am until 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. The building is not open on public holidays or weekends. The Supreme Court Registry hours are from 9.30am to 4.00pm. The Court of Appeal Registry hours are from 9.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

Court conduct

The court is open to the public, unless in special circumstances when the court orders otherwise. Seating is provided in the public gallery, usually at the back of the courtroom.

When entering or leaving a courtroom it is customary to bow slightly (as if nodding) to the judge. You should also stand and bow when a judge enters or leaves the courtroom.

Talking, smoking, eating and chewing gum are not permitted.

Mobile phones and pagers must be turned off before entering the courtroom. Video or other cameras, tape recorders, two-way radios or other electronic equipment are not permitted. Please see the Conditions of Entry below for more information.

Attending as a witness

Remember to bring relevant documents about the case with you to court. You will be asked to wait in the public waiting area or a witness waiting room until called into court by the tipstaff. You may have to wait a long time before you give your evidence – you may wish to bring something to read and something to eat/drink.

Conditions of entry

Search

  • Every visitor to the court premises must submit to a scanning or frisk search.
  • People displaying court issued security cards are exempt.

It is not permitted to:

  • use tape or voice recording devices to record or transmit any court proceedings without the prior consent of the Chief Justice
  • take photographs or use video recording equipment within the court premises without the prior consent of the Chief Justice, or
  • use mobile phones in areas other than public spaces.

 

It is an offence under the Court Security Act 1980 to:

  • carry any prohibited article, explosive device, substance or offensive weapon e.g. firearm, martial arts weapon, baton, fixed blade knife, or any article which can be used as a weapon, or
  • fail to give your name, address and evidence of identity or reason for being within the court premises when requested to do so by an authorised officer.

 

The Supreme Court precinct is a smoke free area.

CCTV is used throughout the Supreme Court.