Project No. 55(II)

Commenced: 1974
Completed: 1986

For a number of years, the Commission had been examining this reference alongside its corresponding review of the Local Courts Act 1904 (WA) and the Local Court Rules 1961 (WA) (see Project No. 16(I). These parallel references constituted a comprehensive review of the inferior courts system in Western Australia. Because of its size, this reference was divided into three parts. In Part II of the reference, the Commission examined the role of Justices of the Peace, the constitution, powers and procedures of the Courts of Petty Sessions, orders to keep the peace and the position of unrepresented defendants.