The Victorian Liberals have announced a proposal to split the state's Court of Appeal into two distinct courts if they are elected. The plan involves creating a Court of Criminal Appeal and a Court of Civil Appeal.
Opposition leader Jess Wilson is set to announce the plan today, which includes appointing additional judges specialising in criminal matters to the new criminal court. The party states this change would empower specialist criminal law judges to ensure sentencing aligns with "community expectations."
The Coalition indicated that the new Court of Criminal Appeal would have "broad oversight across Victoria's courts" to ensure sentences for serious crimes meet community expectations. They also stated it would give effect to new bail and sentencing laws they would enact before Christmas, arguing that the court's decisions would influence sentences across the state.