Queensland’s Justices of the Peace will hear some minor matters in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, as the state Government’s JP (QCAT) pilot program kicked off yesterday.

“During a six month trial, specially selected and trained participants will hear and adjudicate disputes up to $5000, “ said Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie.

Mr Bleijie said during the trial, teams of two JPs, one legally qualified and one non-legally qualified, will attempt to reduce the legal backlog using their life experience to resolve minor disputes with common sense.

Far North Queensland misses out on the pilot program, which will run in Brisbane, Ipswich, Southport, Maroochydore and Townsville. 111 JPs have signed up so far.

The JP program launch comes as State Budget data reveals Queensland courts are processing cases faster, compared to other states.

Mr Bleije said in the past year, 125 per cent of criminal matters were cleared in the supreme court, and 107 percent of civil matters were finalized. In the District Court, 103 per cent of criminal cases are cleared per year, and 108 per cent of civil matters completed.

“This means court cases are not just finishing on time, the backlog is finally beginning to clear, “ Mr Bleije said. He counted his appointment of a new Supreme Court Judge in July 2012, three extra Magistrates and new central Queensland Coroner as contributing to the backlog reduction.

Locally, the Mossman Court House hosts a visiting Magistrate from Cairns, one of over 100 regional community courts around the state. Over 90 percent of matters going before courts in Queensland are heard by these visiting magistrates, according to Chief Magistrate Judge Brendan Butler in her 2011-12 report. District Court and Circuit Court matters are heard in Cairns.