Profession updates

Summer court closure dates released

20 December 2023

Court Services Queensland has advised of the 2023-24 summer closure arrangements for the Supreme, District, Land and Magistrates courts.

Supreme Court of Queensland

Supreme Court of Queensland registries will be closed from Monday, 25 December 2023 and will reopen at 8.30am Monday, 8 January 2024.
A duty judge will be available to hear urgent matters in the weeks starting 25 December 2023 and 1 January 2024.
A limited number of judges will sit in the Applications and Crime jurisdiction for the weeks starting 18 December 2023, 8 January 2024, 15 January 2024 and 22 January 2024.

For more information, visit Supreme Court of Queensland Summer Break 2023-24 arrangements.

District Court of Queensland

District Court of Queensland registries will be closed from Monday, 25 December 2023 and will reopen at 8.30am Monday, 8 January 2024.
A duty judge will be available to hear urgent matters in the weeks starting 25 December 2023 and 1 January 2024.
A limited number of judges will sit in the Applications and Crime jurisdictions for the weeks starting 18 December 2023, 8 January 2024, 15 January 2024 and 22 January 2024.

For more information, visit District Court of Queensland Summer Break 2023-24 arrangements.

Land Court of Queensland

The Land Court of Queensland Registry will be closed from Monday, 25 December 2023 and will reopen at 8.30am Monday, 8 January 2024.

Magistrates Court (including Brisbane Arrest Court)

Magistrates Court registries will be closed from Monday, 25 December 2023 and will reopen at 8.30am Monday, 8 January 2024. The only exception will be the following which will operate for overnight in-custody matters: Brisbane Magistrates Court – Arrest Court, Southport Magistrates Court, Maroochydore Magistrates Court, Bundaberg Magistrates Court, Townsville Magistrates Court, Cairns Magistrates Court, Toowoomba Magistrates Court and Beenleigh Magistrates Court.
Court hearings, if required, will generally start at 9am.
During this period, Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court (QDAC) teams continue to operate in a modified form. To ensure that QDAC participants meet the requirements of their Treatment Orders, the QDAC Team will continue to operate however under reduced services during the court closure period. This includes convening Review Team meetings and court sittings as required. QDAC Treatment Order Agencies will also deliver services to program participants in line with their core responsibilities to the program.
Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 section 151ZB Warrant apprehensions: Section 151ZB warrant apprehensions will be adjourned to the next QDAC sitting day with no provision for bail as per paragraph 27 of Practice Direction No. 1 of 2018 (amended). The first QDAC sitting day after the closure period is 8 January 2024.

For more information about the summer closure arrangements including those for Magistrates Courts’ custody matters, remaining matters, electronic adjournments and domestic and family violence matters, visit Court Closure Arrangement for Magistrates Court.