Supreme Court circuit rolls into the Gold Coast to hear serious cases

FOR the first time in more than a decade a drug trafficker will be given a sentence for Gold Coast crimes in Southport on Monday, as the Supreme Court rolls into the Glitter Strip.

The Supreme Court will roll into the Gold Coast for a circuit sitting.

FOR the first time in more than a decade a drug trafficker will be given a sentence for Gold Coast crimes in Southport on Monday.

The much anticipated circuit sitting of the Supreme Court of Queensland will roll into town for two weeks.

Three alleged drug traffickers are expected to be the first cases to be heard at the sitting — the first time the Supreme Court has ventured to the Southport court precinct since 2007.

In the meantime, lawyers, their clients, witnesses and victims and their families have had to travel to Brisbane for the cases.

The much anticipated circuit sitting of the Supreme Court of Queensland will roll into town for two weeks.

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In the sitting over the next two weeks, a number of sentences and bail applications are expected to take place.

On Tuesday an attempted murder trial is expected to start in relation to the alleged shooting of former Big Brother contestant Sam Wallace.

The Supreme Court only deals with the state’s most serious crimes including large drug trafficking matters, manslaughters, attempted murders and murders.

The Supreme Court only deals with the state’s most serious crimes including large drug trafficking matters, manslaughters, attempted murders and murders.

The circuit sitting of the state’s highest court has come after lobbying from lawyers across the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast District Law Association president Mia Belhau said: “There are a significant number of Supreme Court cases which required practitioners and their client to travel to Brisbane for the matter.”

Ms Belhau said this sitting was about demonstrating a need for a Gold Coast based Supreme Court to put pressure on the state government to install a permanent higher court on the Glitter Strip.

In the 2016-2017 financial year, 194 cases were committed to the Supreme Court from Southport, all to be heard in Brisbane.

In the 2016-2017 financial year, 194 cases were committed to the Supreme Court from Southport, all to be heard in Brisbane. It is a big jump from 2008-2009 when 114 cases were passed up.

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Hannay Lawyers director Chris Hannay said there was a “massive” workload coming from the Gold Coast for the Supreme Court.

“There is no reason why they shouldn’t have one down here to cope with the population growth,” he said.

Howden Saggers Lawyers partner Dave Garratt said the sitting was “a step” in the right direction.

“It’s more cost effective,” he said.

“I know that a majority of the local firms are advocating for it.”

Justice David Boddice will preside over the sittings next week and is expected to have drinks with Gold Coast barristers and solicitors on Tuesday night.