Federal Court of Australia

Federal Court of Australia
In Melbourne, the Federal Court is housed with other federal courts such as the High Court and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building on the corner of La Trobe Street and William Street[1]
33°52′8″S 151°12′42″E / 33.86889°S 151.21167°E / -33.86889; 151.21167
Established	1976
Jurisdiction	Australia
Coordinates	33°52′8″S 151°12′42″E / 33.86889°S 151.21167°E / -33.86889; 151.21167
Authorised by	Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth)
Appeals to	High Court of Australia
Website	www.fedcourt.gov.au
Chief Justice
Currently	Debra Mortimer
Since	7 April 2023

The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law (with the exception of family law matters), along with some summary (less serious) and indictable (more serious) criminal matters.^[2] Cases are heard at first instance mostly by single judges. In cases of importance, a full court comprising three judges can be convened upon determination by the Chief Justice. The Court also has appellate jurisdiction, which is mostly exercised by a Full Court comprising three judges (although sometimes by a panel of five judges and sometimes by a single judge), the only avenue of appeal from which lies to the High Court of Australia. In the Australian court hierarchy, the Federal Court occupies a position equivalent to the supreme courts of each of the states and territories. In relation to the other courts in the federal stream, it is superior to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for all jurisdictions except family law. It was established in 1976 by the Federal Court of Australia Act.

The Chief Justice of the Federal Court is Debra Mortimer.