Melbourne Magistrates' Court
La Trobe and Russell Street buildings
### La Trobe and Russell Street buildings

[thumb\|right\|Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court on the corner of La Trobe Street and Russell Street](/wiki/File:Former_Melbourne_City_and_District_Court.jpg "Former Melbourne City and District Court.jpg")
On January 20, 1914, three courts were opened on the corners of [LaTrobe](/wiki/La_Trobe_Street "La Trobe Street") and [Russell](/wiki/Russell_Street%2C_Melbourne "Russell Street, Melbourne") streets: the City Court, the District Court, and a third Emergency Court. A feature of the District Court is a wooden canopy over the seat upon which the Magistrate sits. This canopy was taken from old Supreme Court which had originally been located at the site.

The Court relocated to its current address on [William Street](/wiki/William_Street%2C_Melbourne "William Street, Melbourne") in 1995\. Since then, the Old Magistrates' Court Building has been annexed as part of [RMIT University](/wiki/RMIT_University "RMIT University"), as Building 20, and is used for lectures.


What is the significance of the wooden canopy from the old Supreme Court being used in the District Court building?