Magistrates' Court Excursion

On Friday the 9th of May, the Year 11 Legal Studies students participated in a school excursion to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. This allowed the students to meet with a judicial officer and witness firsthand various court cases. 

Kaylee Gleeson, a Year 10 student studying Year 11 Legal Studies, has written the following report:

"We met at Tarneit Station at 8:45 am to catch the 9:20 am train to the city. When our teacher Nina arrived, she asked me to write a report about the day — I agreed, thinking it would be a good memory test.

After roll call and several headcounts by Nina and Cameron, we took the train to Southern Cross, had a quick snack break, then walked to the Magistrates’ Court. To get inside, we went through security checks similar to airport screening, then took lifts to Level 3, where we spent most of the day.

Case 1: Culpable Driving

The accused, a man in his 20s, appeared via video call and faced multiple charges, including culpable driving and failing to stop. He pleaded not guilty, and the court was adjourned to June 6th. The courtroom was much smaller than I expected.

Case 2: Fraud / Visa Scam

A person was charged with scamming people through fake visa applications and earning $50,000. The Magistrate was more vocal than the last and questioned the defence directly. After adjourning to June 30th, she spoke to us about crime motivations — drugs, alcohol, and mental health — and recommended other cases to watch.

Case 3: Theft, Drugs, Assault

This case involved a man charged with theft, drug possession, and assault. He sat right in front of me, which felt surreal. His defence shared details about his tough upbringing. He pleaded guilty and was considered for a Community Corrections Order instead of jail. The court adjourned to await that decision.

Case 4: Domestic Abuse (Translated)

This case involved a victim appearing via video call with a translator. It was hard to follow due to translation delays and repeated questions. Tension built in the room, with students and even officers visibly frustrated. We left early, likely due to the chaotic atmosphere.

Case 5: Family Dispute

This emotional case involved a father discussing custody issues with his ex-wife, who appeared on a screen. He shared disputes over school events, haircuts, and COVID-related transport. It was heavy, and I wished we could’ve stayed longer, but we had to leave for lunch.

Final Thoughts

This was a genuinely eye-opening experience. I was surprised by how small the courtrooms were and really enjoyed the interactive aspect of the day. I’d definitely do it again and recommend it to others.

Thanks again for the opportunity!"

-Katerina Kolarik

Year 10 Legal Studies student