South Australia’s Chief Justice Chris Kourakis says his head was “spinning” after he took the unprecedented step of hearing matters at a suburban court.

Mr Kourakis sat at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court, glimpsing at first hand what he described as the heavy caseloads faced by magistrates.

Last financial year, South Australia’s 37 magistrates held 215,000 hearings and cleared 65,000 cases.

The court system is currently beset by delays and a backlog of cases, with the closure of the Holden Hill court and other cuts expected to increase that burden.

“My head at the end of the morning session … was spinning and it’s a tribute to the work that they do that they get through their lists.

I learnt a great deal by coming out here,” Mr Kourakis said outside court.