Law in Context

Abstract from Volume 26 No 1 (2008) Criminal Appeals 1907-2007

The First Decade of the Victorian Court of Appeal

The Hon Stephen Charles QC is a former Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria (1995 to 2006).

Before 1995, appeals in the superior courts in Victoria were based on the Full Court model whereby trial judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria were appointed on an ad hoc basis to sit as appeal judges to hear and determine civil and criminal appeals. A similar model was used in most other jurisdictions in Australia. In 1995 a permanent Court of Appeal was created in Victoria. This article discusses the reasons behind the establishment of the Victorian Court of Appeal, and examines the extent to which empirical data can be used to assess the operation of courts of appeal.

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