What happens to the Courts over Christmas?

Updated court dates for 2024/2025

As the end of year approaches, our thoughts may turn to preparations for celebrations and holidays. 

Have you ever wondered what happens to Australia’s courts over Christmas? Like many other services and organisations, court dates and operating hours change over the summer holiday period. 

Australia’s courts don’t  completely shut down over the festive period. Magistrates, duty judges and registry office support staff are on-call for emergency cases. 

For details specific to your state or territory, check the court closing and festive period court dates below. 

Australian Capital Territory's court closure dates 2024

The ACT’s court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation period are detailed below: 

• Supreme Court: Monday 16 December 2024 — Monday 27 January 2025 inclusive. The 2025 Law Term starts on Tuesday 28 January 2025  

• Magistrates Court: 1.00pm Friday 20 December 2024 — Wednesday 8 January 2025 inclusive. Regular sittings recommence Thursday 9 January 2025  

• ACT Courts Registry: 12.30pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 — 9.00am Thursday 2 January 2025 inclusive

For more information, visit the Australian Capital Territory Courts website. 

New South Wales' court closure dates 2024

New South Wales’ court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation period are detailed below:

• Supreme Court: Monday 23 December 2024 — Friday 31 January 2025 inclusive. The 2025 court term starts on Monday 3 February 2025  

• District Court criminal jurisdiction: Final sitting day is Friday 20 December 2024 At time of publication, awaiting the court's 2025 commencement date 

• District Court civil jurisdiction: Final sitting day is Friday 20 December 2024 At time of publication, awaiting the court's 2025 commencement date 

• Local Court fixed vacation period: Monday 23 December 2024 — Friday 3 January 2025 inclusive. Sittings recommence Monday 6 January 2025 

For more information, visit the NSW Courts and Tribunals website. 

Northern Territory's court closure dates 2024 

The Northern Territory’s court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation period are detailed below: 

• Supreme Court: At time of publication, awaiting the court’s release of summer court closing dates for 2024 — 2025 

• Local Court (Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs) and Darwin Children’s Court : Monday 16 December 2024 — Friday 3 January 2025 inclusive  

For more information, visit the Northern Territory Courts website and the Northern Territory Local Court website. 

Queensland's court closure dates 2024 

Queensland court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation period are detailed below: 

• Supreme Court: Monday 16 December 2024 – Tuesday 28 January 2025 inclusive 

• Supreme Court Registry:  Friday 27 December 2024 – Friday 3 January 2025 inclusive. The Registry will reopen on Monday 6 January 2025 

• District Court Registry:  Friday 27 December 2024 – Friday 3 January 2025 inclusive. The Registry will reopen on Monday 6 January 2025 

• Magistrates Court Registry:  Monday 23 December 2024 – Friday 3 January 2025 inclusive. The Registry will reopen on Monday 6 January 2025

For more information visit the Queensland courts website.

South Australia's court closure dates 2024

South Australia’s court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation period are detailed below: 

• Supreme Court Registry:  4.30pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025 inclusive. The Registry will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025   

• District Court Registry: 4.30pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025 inclusive. The Registry will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025   

• Magistrates Court Registries: Adelaide, suburban and country registries remain open 9.00am — 5.00pm except for public holidays over the Christmas period (25 December 2024, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025). All registries close at 4.30pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 

For more information visit the Courts Administration Authority of South Australia website. 

Tasmania's court closure dates 2024

Tasmania’s court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation period are detailed below: 

• Supreme Court sittings: Monday 16 December 2024 – Friday 31 January 2025 inclusive (Duty Judges will be available during the court closing period) 

• Supreme Court Registries: 1.00pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 – 9.00am Thursday 2 January 2025 inclusive  

• Magistrates Court Registries: 2.00pm 24 December 2024 – 9.00am Thursday 2 January 2025

For more information visit Supreme Court of Tasmania or Magistrates Court of Tasmania. 

Victoria's court closure dates 2024 

Victoria’s court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation are detailed below: 

• Supreme Court: Final sitting day is Friday 20 December 2024. At time of publication, awaiting the court’s 2025 commencement date  

• County Court sittings: 24 December 2024 – 8 January 2025 inclusive. Sittings recommence Thursday 9 January 2025   

• Magistrates Court sittings: 23 December 2024 –3 January 2025 inclusive. Sittings recommence Monday 6 January 2025 

For more information, visit the Court Services Victoria website. 

Western Australia's court closure dates 2024

Western Australia’s court dates and court closing over the 2024 / 2025 summer vacation are detailed below: 

• Supreme Court sittings: Court vacation for civil sittings starts Monday 23 December 2024. Civil and criminal sittings recommence Tuesday 14 January 2025  

• District Court: Court closing for civil and criminal sittings starts Monday 23 December 2024. At time of publication, awaiting the court’s 2025 commencement date 

• Magistrates Court: At time of publication, awaiting the court’s release of summer court closing dates for 2024 — 2025 

For more information, visit the Supreme Court of Western Australia, District Court of Western Australia or the Magistrates Court of Western Australia. 

Contacting Shine Lawyers over the summer vacation festive season 

Shine Lawyers’ offices will be closed from 5.00pm Friday 20 December 2024 and re-open at 8.15am Monday 6 January 2025. 

Our friendly Client Service team will close at 7.00pm on Friday 20 December 2024 and return to usual operating hours on Monday 6 January 2025. Between those dates, members of our team can help with your enquiry by phone or email: 

• Saturday 21 December 2024: 8.15am - 4.30pm 

• Sunday 22 December 2024: 8.15am - 4.30pm 

• Monday 23 December 2024: 7.00am - 5.00pm 

• Tuesday 24 December 2024: 7.00am - 5.00pm 

• Friday 27 December 2024: 7.00am - 5.00pm 

• Monday 30 December 2024: 7.00am - 7.00pm 

• Tuesday 31 December 2024: 7.00am - 5.00pm 

• Thursday 2 January 2025: 7.00am - 7.00pm 

• Friday 3 January 2025: 7.00am - 5.00pm 

• Saturday 4 January 2025: 8.15am - 4.30pm 

• Sunday 5 January: 8:15am – 4:30pm 

 *Times are in AEST (not AEDT) 

You can still make an enquiry online during the closure periods and our teams will get back to you as soon as they can.  

We wish everyone a safe and joyous end of year and a Happy 2025.