Who's who in court - Police applications for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO)
This is a picture of how a courtroom might look for a police application for an AVO in the NSW Local Court.
1 |
Judicial Officer |
5 |
Police Prosecutor |
 | In AVO cases in the Local Court this may be a registrar or magistrate.
|
| The police prosecutor represents the person who needs protection (protected person). In police applications the protected person usually sits next to the prosecutor on the right or in the gallery.
|
2 |
Court Officer |
6 |
Defendant |
| This person helps the judicial officer.
| | The person who is defending an application for an AVO. Defendants usually sit on the left. When they speak to the magistrate or registrar they should stand at the microphone.
|
3 |
Bench |
7 |
Bar Table |
| This is where judicial officers sit. You should not go up to the bench unless asked. If you need to give documents to the judicial officer, the court officer will get them from you.
| | This is the table where you may be asked by the Judicial Officer to sit when your case is called.
|
4 |
Witness Box or Stand |
8 |
Gallery |
| This is where a witness will sit if they are asked to give oral evidence, under oath. | | This is where the protected person, police officers, Domestic Violence Liaison Officers (DVLOs) and representatives from the Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service will sit. |