Adelaide courts on chopping block: report

The potential closure of two suburban Adelaide courts could put further pressure on an already congested system, experts say.

News Corp Australia reports that the State Courts Administration Council (SCAC) plans to close the Port Adelaide and Holden Hill magistrates courts, putting about 40 jobs at risk.

It says about $4 million could be raised from the sale of court land and reduced wages and spending.

Law Society of SA president Morry Bailes says if the courts are closed, it will have a major impact on already overstretched metropolitan courts.

"We question how the courts would cope with such an increased caseload, considering the system is already beset by delays," he said on Friday.

"The concern is that both victims of crime and accused persons will have longer to wait to have their matters heard."

His concerns were echoed by opposition legal spokeswoman Vickie Chapman, who said people would have to travel further and wait longer to access courts.

The Holden Hill and Port Adelaide courts deal with up to 180 cases each day, most of which are likely to be transferred to the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

About 200 matters went before the Adelaide Magistrates Court every day.

A spokeswoman for the SCAC declined to comment.

Attorney-General John Rau said the decision was out of his hands.

"I have continuous discussions with the Courts Administration Authority about their allocation of resources and will continue to do so," he said in a statement.

"But ultimately any decision is theirs, not mine."

The closure of Port Adelaide and Holden Hill would leave just three magistrates courts in the greater Adelaide region.