From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Republic of Ireland

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Ireland

Constitution Referendum

Oireachtas Seanad Éireann Cathaoirleach: Pat Moylan Dáil Éireann Ceann Comhairle: John O'Donoghue President: Mary McAleese Council of State Presidential Commission Government Taoiseach: Bertie Ahern Tánaiste: Brian Cowen Departments of State Minister of State Opposition Leader: Enda Kenny Civil Service Local Government Attorney General Courts Supreme Court Chief Justice High Court Court of Criminal Appeal Special Criminal Court Circuit Court District Court Elections Presidential (2004) European (2004) Parliamentary (2007) Constituencies By-elections Political Parties Politicians Counties of Ireland EU Politics Foreign relations See also Politics of Northern Ireland

Other countries · Atlas  Politics Portal view • talk • edit

The District Court (An Chúirt Dúiche in Irish) of Ireland consists of a President and fifty-four judges.

For the purposes of the administration of justice the country is divided into districts and at least one judge is assigned to each district. Cases heard in a district court include civil and criminal; family law and licensing applications are also heard in the court.

The Civil Jurisdiction is limited to damages not exceeding €6,350; the court has no equitable jurisdiction.

The Court has the power to renew licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor and grant licences for lotteries.

The Family Jurisdiction of the Court includes the power to award guardianship, grant protection or barring orders, and award maintenance of up to €150 a week.

The Criminal Jurisdiction is limited to summary offences - i.e. offences heard without a jury where the maximum punishment is 12 months imprisonment. Indictable offences may also be tried by the Court provided the accused, the judge and the Director of Public Prosecutions agree. In such a case the maximum penalty imposed by the judge for the indictable offence can not exceed 12 months imprisonment. Murder, treason, rape and aggravated sexual assault are crimes that can not be disposed of summararily in such a manner. Bail hearings for offences triable by both the District Court itself and the Circuit Court are heard here also with a right to appeal to the High Court for a refusal to grant bail.

All judgements of the District Court in both civil and criminal trials can be appealed to a de novo hearing in front of the Circuit Court. The decisions of a District Court judge can also be judicially reviewed by the High Court.

• District Court - Courts Service of Ireland

v • d • e Politics of Ireland
Constitution	Constitution of Ireland · Referendums
Oireachtas	Dáil Éireann (Ceann Comhairle) · Seanad Éireann (Cathaoirleach) · President (Mary McAleese) · Council of State · Presidential Commission
Government	Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) · Tánaiste (Brian Cowen) · Departments of State · Minister of State · Opposition Front Bench · Opposition Leader (Enda Kenny)
Courts	Supreme Court · Chief Justice · High Court · Court of Criminal Appeal · Special Criminal Court · Circuit Court · District Court
Elections	Presidential (2004) · European (2004) · Parliamentary (2007) · Constituencies · By-elections
Miscellaneous	Political parties · Politicians · Attorney General · Civil service · Local government · EU politics · Foreign relations

This article is a stub relating to law in Ireland. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.