Constituted under the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969, the District Court is the intermediate court in Western Australia, presided over by a District Court judge.

It has its principal registry at 500 Hay Street Perth Western Australia and maintains registries in Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Derby, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, and South Hedland. The District Court also sits at Meekatharra as required.

There are 23 judges of the court who are based in Perth. They travel on circuit to regional areas on a regular basis. The Judges delegate some of their responsibilities to five registrars appointed under the provisions of the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969.

The court deals with serious criminal offences for which the maximum penalty is 20 years' imprisonment (for example, serious assaults, sexual assaults, serious fraud and commercial theft, burglary and drug offences ).

A jury of 12 community members decides whether a person accused of a criminal offence is guilty or not guilty. An accused person may choose to have a trial by judge alone, and not by a jury.

In civil law, the court deals with matters generally involving claims up to $750,000. It has unlimited jurisdiction in claims for damages for personal injuries and it has exclusive jurisdiction in regard to claims for damages for injury sustained in motor vehicle accidents.

Appeals from the Magistrates Court and a number of tribunals and boards are heard by the District Court. The Court of Appeal hears appeals from the District Court.