Justice Marcia Neave and fellow justices Bernard Bongiorno and David Byrne yesterday started hearing three criminal appeals and one civil appeal which will run in the three-day sitting.

She said court circuits had been a part of the Victorian court system since courts came to what is now Port Fairy during 1851 and the Court Of Appeal went on a regional circuit twice a year.

Justice Neave said justice not only had to be done but be seen to be done and visiting regions across the state gave the community a chance to see Victoria's highest court as accessible and transparent.

She said she hoped that interested members of the community would come and see the court in action.

Justice Neave said 70 per cent of the court's time was spent on criminal appeals while the rest was made up of civil matters.

The court is hearing two criminal appeals arising from County Court proceedings which relate to sex offences against children. The third criminal appeal arises from Supreme Court proceedings in which a man was found guilty of manslaughter.

The appeals have been launched by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the leniency of sentences.

The civil appeal arises from a jury trial for damages for personal injury said to have been caused by the negligence of an employer.

Justice Neave said that visiting regional centres provided a valuable opportunity for interchange between the Court of Appeal and the community.