Welcome to Hogwarts. There's lots of loot in defending petty crime, and there's nothing magical about this lot. Barristers or the legal profession as a whole are not, wise, clever or just men. They are just men, harbouring a large degree of smuggness. Who hide beneath their white tattered wigs and surround themselves in black dishevelled robes, looking very much like Rastafarians. (Haile Selassie would be very proud)? They play a puerile game. But behave like demagogues,posturing and posing that result from endless days of boredom; And so to alleviate that boredom, play with yours, and mine prejudices and desires. But later renege on those promises by applying rational arguments. Or what you and I believe to be the letter of the law. And so you ask yourself, who does the law protect? Actually the law protects the law and it's so easy for those in charge to hide behind that thin curtain. The laws themselves were a created vision and were not created for the common man. I have recently attended a court hearing at DCLC (Downing Centre Local Court)filled with gentlemen, living in the 18th Century,wearing tattered white wigs and dishevelled black robes donning and doffing to each other, disguising an all knowing smirk. Suddenly you become very uncomfortable as you quickly realise those smirks hide an imbalance of power along with a greed these greedy men covert. Soon you realise a long established game is being played out; And that endgame has already been predetermined. [The result is not even close to what you've imagined it to be]? These men and women are not practising law as they are supposedly, supposed to do, but sticking to a well rehearsed and praticed agenda?---- and slowly but surely you become aware, in the confines of that Courtroom, (it's all just window dressing), provided not for your entertainment but their amusement? And so there's very little effort on their part. It's just a well rehearsed pantomime [and they have the nerve to call it practising law)."Ha"! Who in reality, make little or no effort, playing their part in this puerile game, at arms length, that pose little or no risk to them! They are content in the knowledge they are safe, as the leading player's in this pantomime are on their side. ------ So those men and women, who have been given a free hand in running the judicial system, and they are quick to tell they do not."Ha"! ----Have in no uncertain terms debased the judicial system. ---- They have in fact, stopped believing in the due process of the law or for that matter justice years ago, and replaced it with the laws of economics?----- Common believe suggests the law to be a branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation? And so what is that single word I'm looking for---- they are not, "Authentic". Take for instance the impassioned speech, at the end of the hearing that seeks leniency, the one, that is among many others, just change the name and place and we have a winner. Hypocrisy also has centre stage. Madam Justitia, it's time to step down off your pedestal and replace your statue with the statue of Dolus. Believe me when I say you have just wasted your hard earned money?

I went to court to appeal my 3 month license suspension and request leniency on the basis of family medical needs. I was caught speeding on a motorway. For this I was extremely remorseful and vowed to never break the road rules again. Nevertheless - I accepted this punishment and strongly considered not contesting the penalty. I was convinced to do otherwise due to a direct family member's need for me to be able to drive. Upon appearing in court I waited from 9:30am until 1:30pm for my case to be heard. Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley spent the morning handing out reductions for license suspensions to a number of unsavoury characters. 19 year old P Platers with multiple previous suspensions or disqualifications were given weeks or months off their suspensions. A woman who travelled at 95km/h down Gardeners Road (a 60 zone) received a month reduction. A man with 4 previous school zone speeding infringements received weeks off his suspension. I, with a clean driving record, no other convictions, two character references, a Traffic Offender Program completion certificate and a signed document from my mother confirming her illness, received 0 days reduction on my suspension. My anger is not to do with the penalty I received. I was well reserved to not driving for three months. My anger is that in the context of that day's proceedings, I was treated unfairly. Only one other person on the day did not receive a reduction in their sentence, out of more than 15-20 people who presented their appeals. I gave the same documents and a similarly (if not more) remorseful account of myself as everyone else did. Yet I received not even the slightest hint of leniency for my first ever offence. After this terrible experience I completely understand why some people have no faith in the court process. The magistrate has complete discretion to treat you as unfairly as they want to and have the gall to call it "justice". Deputy Chief Magistrate Mottley - if you happen to read this - you know that you treated me unfairly. You came back from your lunch break with a changed demeanour, knowing that you were too lenient to everyone in the morning. Why I deserved to be made an example of, despite the fact that my offence and history were signifcantly less serious than the dozens of other people who appeared in your court room that day, is a mystery to me. My decision to speed has cost me my license, but your decision to be devoid of justice and ethics has cost you your integrity.

No justice here , magistrate was coaching the complainant during hearing and she got away with perjury , also stopped her from giving evidence about the messages sent from her phone that would prove the accused is innocent..... and the magistrate created evidence to make me look look guilty , the complainant was like ohh he is Palestinian , i said im proud the magistrate asked me to be silent she was using my ethnic Middle eastern background against me so that she can be believed and the .... the complainant lied to police , what a joke of a court i can prove everything i said here I suggest the attorney general should introduce 3 jurors at the magistrate to decide guilt because it seems the magistrate decides guilt based on their own opinion why did you guys delete my comment? i thought people can share their opinion in a democratic country ?

The 5 stars is for the building with its stunning Interwar Stripped Classical architecture style. It has Sydney very first escalator and first car delivery service. Inspired by Le Bon Marché in Paris. Most impressive is the use of white glazed bricks (from Shaw's Rigg in Glasgow) & the yellow/orange glazed terracotta of its decorative and distinctive façade. The molded terracotta and mosaic tiled and terrazzo flooring are absolutely stupendous. This is a Heritage listed building once a department store, the Mark Foy's Piazza Store. A fantastic building to explore even if you are not there on official capacities. Now it's the Local Court, the District Court and a law library with the official name, Sydney Downing Centre.

Absolute waste of your time, they have 300 people sitting at one cramp space, dont expect you going to have a seat. Ineffective staffs spending 3 hours just to issue everyone a ticket, and only 2 toilets for 300 people, no wifi, only 2 tables with power sockets, you better be the first to use it, or you never going to. You spend 6 hours of the day watching TV and twiddle your thumb and the pay rate is just insulting. If you are a productive member of the society, Do yourself a favor, Try to get excused.

What a joke - with technology nowadays, how is it possible this place runs like a rusty old wooden wheel? It is dysfunctional, slow, and you can expect to wait hours - the overall experience of court could be improved with basic technology... even the RMS which used to be painful is now an efficient and joyful experience. An iPhone app would help? Man, this place needs an update - talk about old school. Using paper rolls to register people, wow. What a terrible way to deal with legal issues and people!

The magistrate residing over room 5.5 on the afternoon of 9 June 2022 is biased, racist and lacks any moral fibre to preside in a court room. I ask the chief magistrate to look over his cases of that afternoon. There is a clear pattern of prejudice. He should be ashamed of himself for such harsh sentences to certain Australians who look different to him and giving ‘his kind’ a pass. It’s makes me sick!

A really difficult place to get to if you have additional accessibility needs. No place to park for blocks and blocks away, no accessible parking and accessing the front door with a wheel chair is at the top of a hill, poor signage and wayfindings for people who may have additional hearing / vision needs. An opportunity to improve services for all members of the community.

If you yell at your wife, once, judges hand out an AVO. The Magistrates are supposed to give a hearing so you can explain something like "I wasnt in the country that day". Instead expect 2 minutes at very best. Most of these Magistrates graduated atthe bottom of our over crowded law schools. These luvvies dont bother to follow the law so neither should you

Was on hold listening to muzak for 25 minutes at a time that the website indicated was 'less busy' than usual. Completely unacceptable levels of customer service. Dreadful. Gave up on my very easy-to-answer enquiry instead of waiting yet longer. Time to reinstate humans to answer telephone calls instead of automata incapable of answering simple questions.

The worst court in Sydney to go to. If you're a self representative litigant they will look down on you. Will not listen to you and just give out arbitrary sentences. Nothing about the rule of law applies here they presume you guilty before anything else and you're lucky if you can convince them of your innocence not the other way around

If you do Jury Duty, they do provide lunch for free. Usually they bring large tray of mixed sandwiches out for all. I have to say, they do make the best - seriously - the best Chicken Schnitzel Sandwiches....when they bring the tray out grab those first and let everyone else have the crappy cheese and tomato sandwiches.

The going price for a fake Apprehended Violence Order is 10K. Most Magistrates accept only brown paper bags. There are so many given without hearings, for cash, that the Court cant function. Expect the Magistrate who issues it to be a leftist political hack , with very few legal skills. Truly inept and corrupt

I got my jury duty summons. "Turn up by 8:30am". Well the doors were not opened until 8:28am with a long, long line. And it took a while to get through security. So consider the summons time flexible until they work out how not to annoy people doing their civic duty. Doesn't this favour the defence?

Photogenic old building that is now a courthouse so although it looks good externally it's really an unhappy place on the inside. There's underground access to Museum Station and Hyde Park at corner of Pitt St and Liverpool St, which is good for rainy day access to train station.

They act like their time is more valuable than yours. Regardless if the law is in your favor. To them it is a game of likability. My verdict was based on comparative law, not actual law. Can't wait until information technology replaces these dinosaurs.

I visited the Downing Centre for Jury Duty. As you walk in the large foyer, you will notice the security check on the left. Just like at the airport, they will put your bags and belongings through an X-ray, while you walk through the scanner.

Its a compete shambles. Magistrates and lawyers run it like a boys brigade social night. Expect delays, insider jokes, appalling misogynistic treatment of females. Not a proper court and not one fit for purpose

If you have been to court before, it's the same. Full of lawyers, police, guilty and not guilty people. Very busy, interesting and great to people watch and able to sit in on court proceedings.

Great lovely looking place...now if we could only get all the corrupt "Pollies" and the inept ICAC guys that are meant to keep them clean into this place for a long overdue judgement.....

As far as courts go, it's up there with the quality ones, primarily because of its highly convenient central location, its historical standpoint & perspective & its fascinating history.

The former Mark Foys Department Store was repurposed into the present Court complex. It houses the NSW District & Local Courts (criminal division). Some nice artworks near the entrance.

You wont find much justice here. The Magistrates are really just doing whatever the cops tell them. Stamp, stamp, stamp whatever order is put in front of them and on we go.

Garry is the best and most helpful Justice of the Peace. Very friendly, courteous JP service and it is free. Thank you Garry for brightening up a rainy day!

At 2.35pm , my daughter waiting in que for correcting the document but the staff let's she coming again tomorrow What's time this place open and close?

Corrupt to it's core. Magistrates won't allow defendants inside who have legitimate mask exemptions despite the government recognizing the exemptions.

Never been faced to discriminations since 2009 which I arrive to Australia. But been discriminated few times by only from the judges.

After security I was lookin for my flight must of been confused certainly wasn't an airport the staff were to helpful

I went in as a witness for a case . Loads of whacked out people around. Could make for an interesting movie or doco

Lovely architecture. Didn't realise it was a courthouse. Conveniently located across the road from Museum Station.

Beautiful old building, great conversion from a department store to a government building.

唐寧中心。現在是法院大樓。 位於海德公園西南側街道，建築是歷史古蹟，最早以前是百貨大樓。漫步公園，陽光下街道上匆忙上班人群，來來去去，欣賞人類歷史文明足跡。

Polite police at security, fast and efficient processing of jury duty people.

Got AHPRA documents signed here for nursing registration, excellent service

lost my house and visiting rights to my kids finally free love this place

Great for the JP to sign documents Open Monday to Friday 12pm to 2:30PM

friendly and helpfull staffs with high scurity. you can find JP there.

love this place great to go and watch cases and for any legal classes

I don’t trust them working like amateur loves money. KARMA

Beautiful building found near to Hyde Park in Sydney.

The reason I moved to Sydney , so professional .

One of the best and favourite place to visit.

I displayed my paintings at display cabinets

It's a court but the building is heritage

If you need to go here your in trouble

Lost my house in this place, bad.

Good law and lore practice

Don't get court here.

Very unfair sentences

What eles can I say.

Free Aussie Cossack

To serve jury duty

Student art work

Very nice place.

Clean and quite

感谢髪官还我清白

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