Local Court of New South Wales

Local Court of New South Wales

The Local Court of New South Wales is the busiest Court in NSW, where all criminal cases and most civil cases begin, and where most are finalised.

Albury Courthouse
Warning alert
Waverley Local Court Sitting at John Maddison Tower

Waverley Local Court is sitting at John Maddison Tower until late 2026 in Courtrooms 7A & 7B.

Registry services will continue to operate from Waverley between 9 AM and 1 PM and 2 PM and 4 PM each weekday.

Contacting the Court remains the same, email the Court at Local-Court-Waverley@justice.nsw.gov.au.

Those with matters listed before Waverley Local Court have been notified of the change of venue to John Maddison Tower.

Waverley Local Court is closed during this period due to renovations occurring at Waverley Police Station and the expected noise from these works.

News

17 December 2025 – Waverley Local Court will sit at John Maddison Tower in 2026

The Local Court will continue not to sit at Waverley until late 2026 due to renovations occurring at Waverley Police Station and the expected noise from these works. Waverley Local Court will sit at John Maddison Tower from 12 January 2026 in Courtrooms 7A & 7B.

Read more here.

12 December 2025 – New Generative Artificial Intelligence Practice Note

The Chief Magistrate has issued a new Practice Note on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Local Court proceedings. This Practice Note adopts the rules established in the Supreme Court in Practice Note SC Gen 23 – Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI).

Find the Practice Note here.

11 December 2025 – Downing Centre to Reopen

From 19 December 2025, the Downing Centre Local Court will reopen, with some Court sittings to return from 22 December 2025:

  • Friday 19 December 2025 - Downing Centre reopens, the Local Court Registry will reopen.
  • Monday 22 December 2025 - Some Court sittings will take place in the Downing Centre, with most sittings to remain in John Maddison Tower & Central Local Court.
  • Thursday 25 December 2025 - Shutdown period commences, the Downing Centre will be open on weekdays that are not Public Holidays during this period.
  • Monday 12 January 2026 - Shutdown period ends. The Local Court will resume sitting in the Downing Centre for normal operations.

Read more about the Downing Centre reopening here.

Most criminal cases in New South Wales first come before the Local Court
AVOs are orders that a Court makes to protect people
Civil cases are disputes about money or property