First Principles of Business Law

7.8. The court and the judges

The authority of a case as a precedent depends on which court decided it. The highlighted text shows that Lynch's case was decided by a court of appeal.

An appeal may generally be taken from local courts to a single judge of the relevant state Supreme Court. Appeals from a county court or from a decision of a single judge of the Supreme Court are heard by a Full Court or Court of Appeal of the relevant Supreme Court. Further appeals may be made to the High Court of Australia. By taking note of which judges decided a case, you can work out the seniority of the court.