State Archives Collection
Making history every day
Courts (Higher)
Filter by
Court of Criminal Jurisdiction guide
The establishment of a NSW Court of Criminal Jurisdiction was authorised by King George III, through the First Charter of Justice (Act 27 Geo.III c.2) 1787
Quarter Sessions guide
The Quarter Sessions court was an intermediate court with greater powers than the local court or bench but not as great as the Supreme Court
Supreme Court guide
The Supreme Court heard all matters that were punishable by death until the abolition of the death penalty in 1955
Vice Admiralty Court of NSW, 1787-1911
One of the earliest courts established in New South Wales, the Vice Admiralty Court was an Imperial Court whereby directives, instructions, imperial bills and acts changing its structure or procedures as well as rules, regulations and tables of fees were received via dispatches from the Secretary of State