17Clerks of petty sessions

### 17 Clerks of petty sessions > > (1)  *\[Section 17 Subsection (1) amended by No. 108 of 1974, s. 38 and Sched. 1 \]*The clerk of petty sessions is, himself or by deputy, the ordinary clerk of – > > > > > > (a) all courts of summary jurisdiction; > > > > > > > (b) all justices examining into charges of indictable offences; and > > > > > > > (c) the magistrate acting ministerially or administratively in respect of matters – > > > > within his district. > > > (1A)  *\[Section 17 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 108 of 1974, s. 3 \]**\[Section 17 Subsection (1A) omitted by No. 45 of 1987, s. 21 and Sched. 1 \]*.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (2)  *\[Section 17 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 19 of 1965, s. 2 \]*The clerk of petty sessions may himself or by deputy receive complaints and issue summonses thereon, summonses to witnesses, and process in execution of convictions and orders as if he were a justice. > > > (2A)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2A) amended by No. 40 of 1999, s. 4, Applied:16 Jul 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-07-16/act-1999-040#GS4@Hpa@EN) *\[Section 17 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 19 of 1965, s. 2 \]*Subject to this section, a justice who is a clerk of petty sessions, deputy clerk of petty sessions, or clerk in the office of a clerk of petty sessions shall not– > > > > > > (a) sit alone or with other justices in a court of summary jurisdiction; or > > > > > > > (b) do any act as an examining justice in respect of a person charged with an indictable offence. > > > (2B)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2B) inserted by No. 40 of 1999, s. 4, Applied:16 Jul 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-07-16/act-1999-040#GS4@Hpb@EN) The Chief Magistrate may authorise a particular, or any, justice who holds the office or position of a clerk of petty sessions, deputy clerk of petty sessions or clerk in the office of a clerk of petty sessions to sit alone in a court of summary jurisdiction. > > > (2C)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2C) inserted by No. 40 of 1999, s. 4, Applied:16 Jul 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-07-16/act-1999-040#GS4@Hpb@EN) An authorisation under [subsection (2B)](#GS17@Gs2B@EN) is subject to any conditions specified in it. > > > (2D)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2D) inserted by No. 40 of 1999, s. 4, Applied:16 Jul 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-07-16/act-1999-040#GS4@Hpb@EN) A justice authorised under [subsection (2B)](#GS17@Gs2B@EN) may do one or more of the following: > > > > > > (a) adjourn to a later date proceedings before the justice; > > > > > > > (b) if the prosecutor consents, admit the defendant to bail; > > > > > > > (c) if the defendant has appeared before the justice in accordance with his or her bail, continue that bail to the date to which the proceedings are being adjourned; > > > > > > > (d) where the justice continues a defendant's bail and both the defendant and the prosecutor consent to a variation of the conditions to which that bail is subject, vary those conditions; > > > > > > > (e) order the defendant to appear before justices on the date to which the proceedings are being adjourned. > > > (2E)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2E) inserted by No. 40 of 1999, s. 4, Applied:16 Jul 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-07-16/act-1999-040#GS4@Hpb@EN) An order under [subsection (2D)(e)](#GS17@Gs2D@Hpe@EN) has the same effect as a summons in similar terms. > > > (2F)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2F) inserted by No. 40 of 1999, s. 4, Applied:16 Jul 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-07-16/act-1999-040#GS4@Hpb@EN) The Chief Magistrate may vary or revoke an authorisation made under [subsection (2B)](#GS17@Gs2B@EN) . > > > (2G)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2G) inserted by No. 40 of 1999, s. 4, Applied:16 Jul 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-07-16/act-1999-040#GS4@Hpb@EN) An authorisation under [subsection (2B)](#GS17@Gs2B@EN) and any variation or revocation of such an authorisation are to be in writing. > > > (3)  *\[Section 17 Subsection (3) amended by No. 108 of 1974, s. 3 \]*This section does not prevent justices from using another person as their clerk in court when the clerk of petty sessions or any of his deputies cannot conveniently attend.