District Court Defence Lawyers Sydney

Facing a District Court Matter? We Can Help.

District Court Matters in New South Wales

The District Court of NSW handles more serious criminal offences, as well as appeals from Local Court decisions. If you’re facing a matter in the District Court, it’s important to have experienced legal representation. At Kingston Fox Lawyers, we have extensive experience managing District Court cases, including appeals, sentence proceedings, and trials.

Our team includes former prosecutors with over 40 years of combined experience in criminal law, giving us the insight and skills needed to provide you with a strategic and effective defence. Whether it’s advocating on your behalf during trial or sentence or managing the appeals process, our expertise and network of barristers and experts mean you’re in capable hands.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation to discuss your options.

What are District Court Matters?

The District Court is the second tier of the court system in NSW and deals with a range of criminal matters, including strictly indictable offences and other indictable offences which the prosecution have elected to deal with on indictment. Examples of these types of matters include:

Sexual assault and other sexual offences like grooming and procuring.
Drug importation.
Drug supply and trafficking offences involving large quantities.
Money laundering and large scale fraud.

Jury Trials

If the matter is defended and is proceeding on indictment, it will be determined in the District Court at a trial before a judge and a jury. Witnesses give evidence in court. The defence have the opportunity to cross-examine each witness.

Having an experienced criminal defence lawyer for these matters is important at an early stage so that your matter can be properly defended.

Sentence Hearings

After a finding of guilt in indictable matters, either through a plea of guilty or a guilty verdict after trial, the District Court determines the appropriate sentence. Sentencing options available to the Court include:

Full time imprisonment and Intensive Correction Orders
Conditional Release Orders and Community Correction Orders
Fines

An experienced criminal defence lawyer is crucial at this stage to present a compelling case for a fair and balanced sentence.

Appeals from the Local Court

The District Court also hears appeals from Local Court decisions. You can appeal a decision of the Local Court where the sentence imposed was too severe or where you were found guilty of an offence after pleading not guilty. Our team at Kingston Fox Lawyers can review your case, identify the areas for appeal, and represent you throughout the appeals process.

No matter the type of matter, Kingston Fox Lawyers will guide you through the complexities of the District Court, ensuring you feel supported and informed at every stage.

Meet the Team Behind Your Defence

Alexandra Sarmed

BA LLB, Partner

Phone: 0455 039 707

Erin Hoile

BA LLB LLM, Partner

Phone: 0455 039 660

Shane Arie

LLB, Solicitor

Phone: 0455 039 112

Tim Stern

B.Ed(Hons), M.Bus, JD, Solicitor

Phone: 0457 781 133

Sam Key

Law Clerk

Phone: 02 8360 7811

The Kingston Fox Difference

Why Choose Kingston Fox Lawyers?

At Kingston Fox Lawyers, we are more than just your legal representatives — we are your partners in navigating the challenges ahead. What sets us apart is our deep commitment to providing a tailor-made, personalised service, backed by over 40 years of combined experience in criminal law.

Our team, which includes former prosecutors, brings unparalleled expertise and a strategic advantage to your defence.

We pride ourselves on our supportive, client-focused approach. Clients often share how much more at ease they feel after speaking with us, reassured by our understanding and straightforward advice. We focus not just on the legal challenges but on your future, ensuring that you can move forward with confidence and peace of mind.

Hear it from our satisfied clients

“A difficult matter that was resolved in my favour”

“Alexandra Sarmed offered me exceptional service and professional assistance with a difficult matter that was resolved in my favour. I couldn’t have asked for any more and I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone in future. Nor will I ever go anywhere else for legal advice myself. I know if she couldn’t help me she would steer me to the right person for the job.”

A.C

“Frank, understanding, hardworking, and knowledgeable”

“We were incredibly lucky to be referred to Alexandra Sarmed for a complex set of charges against my adult child. From the first meeting, we were struck by her sense of humanity. She supported us throughout the process with her frankness, understanding, warmth, humour, hard work and knowledge. Alexandra found an amazing Barrister and together they achieved the right outcome. We will be forever thankful to Alexandra Sarmed.”

S.D

“Sympathetic and extremely reassuring”

“Erin was wonderful at a time of extreme stress for me. She listened to me and provided professional and helpful advice. She was sympathetic and clear-thinking, expertly guiding me through a process that was foreign to me. This was extremely reassuring. I would strongly recommend Kingston Fox Lawyers to anybody needing legal representation.”

B.F

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of offences are heard in the District Court?

The District Court deals with criminal offences that are too serious for the Local Court to finalise, including:

Drug offences: Including drug importation, large-scale supply, and manufacturing.
Sexual assault: Along with aggravated sexual assault, and child-related sexual offences.
Money laundering: As well as large scale frauds.
Robbery: Including armed robbery and some break and enter offences.

These cases are more complex and often involve trials where evidence is presented before a judge and a jury.

What distinguishes the Local Court from the District Court?

The Local Court handles less serious offences and preliminary, committal proceedings, while the District Court deals with more serious indictable offences. The District Court also hears appeals from the Local Court.

What happens if I am found guilty in the District Court?

If you are found guilty in the District Court, the next step is sentencing. Your lawyer will present information and arguments to seek the most appropriate and fair sentence. This could include adducing, evidence of your personal circumstances, and any mitigating factors that may reduce the severity of the sentence.

What is the EAGP process?

EAGP stands for Early Appropriate Guilty Plea and encourages early guilty pleas with set discounts on sentence. This process, which starts in the Local Court, applies to indictable offences that will ultimately be finalised in the District or Supreme Courts.

Sentencing discounts available on a plea of guilty for State offences are:

25% if you plead guilty in the Local Court before committal;
10% if you plead guilty after committal and up to 14 days before your trial is set to start;
5% if you plead guilty less than 14 days before your trial is set to start, or during the trial.

What are the stages of the EAGP process?

Brief of evidence - This stage requires the prosecution to serve a brief of evidence on the defence. This generally takes about 8 weeks, but may take longer in certain circumstances.
Charge Certification - Once the full brief of evidence is received by the ODPP they will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the offences charged. The ODPP will then file a charge certificate listing the charges they wish to proceed with. A charge certificate must be filed within 6 months of the first mention date, unless a Local Court Magistrate grants an extension of this time limit.
Case Conference - After a charge certificate is filed, the Local Court will order the parties to participate in a case conference. This process includes the parties meeting to discuss the matter, to determine if the Accused person is willing to plead guilty to any of the offences and where early negotiations occur, in an attempt to resolve the matter without the need to go to trial. The parties are generally given 8 weeks to participate in a case conference and file a case conference certificate before it returns to court.
Committal - The final step of the process is the Accused person informing the court if they are guilty or not guilty to the offences charged. If the Accused pleads guilty to the offences before the court they will be committed to the District Court for sentence. If they plead not guilty, they will be committed to the District Court for trial.

How can Kingston Fox Lawyers assist with an appeal?

If you are not satisfied with the result of your matter in the Local Court, Kingston Fox Lawyers can help with the appeals process in the District Court. We will review your case, identify the areas for appeal, and present a strong argument in the District Court.

Can I get bail if my matter is in the District Court?

Yes, you can apply for bail in the District Court. Whether bail is granted depends on factors such as the seriousness of the offence, your personal circumstances, and whether bail concerns can be adequately addressed. Kingston Fox Lawyers will assist in preparing a comprehensive bail application to give you the best chance of remaining out of custody during your case.

What should I expect during a District Court trial?

During a District Court trial, the prosecution will adduce its evidence, and the defence will have the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and present its own evidence. The trial may be heard before a judge alone or a judge and jury. The jury will decide if the prosecution has proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Having an experienced defence team is crucial to navigating the complexities of the trial and presenting a strong case.