The Wire

The development of a Koori court is usually met with excitement and embraced by all stakeholders. Not so for the Northern Territory, who are experiencing resistance from local Magistrates at the half-way mark of a 1 year trial of the community courts. Kimberely Hunter, assistant director of the North Australian Legal Aid Service (NALAS), explains that the aims of the community courts is to get people to take responsibility for their actions. Mr Hunter says that while the Koori courts enforce the same laws as normal courts, the proceedings and experience differs greatly. He says offenders are much more engaged in community court proceedings. NALAS is urging Magistrates to support the new sentencing regime.