16 December 2011

Case management comes to the Supreme Court

| johnboy
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Simon Corbell has the happy news that the ACT’s Supreme Court is adopting basic case management systems to increase its glacial pace.

In return they’re being rewarded with funding for two more temporary judges to try and tackle the shameful backlog.

Mr Corbell welcomed a decision by the courts to implement a „docket? system which will create greater efficiencies in the way matters are heard. Under this system each case is allocated to a particular judge who manages it actively to ensure focused and early resolution.

“Currently cases move between judges depending on availability. Changes to court processes will also see routine procedural steps dealt with before matters are allocated to a docket judge. This will ensure that all court events use judicial time appropriately, and advance the finalisation of the matter.

Mr Corbell said that the extra funding allocation from the ACT Government would also provide extra resources for registry support, the Director of Public Prosecutions and Legal Aid to cope with the upcoming blitz.

UPDATE: The Greens’ Shane Rattenbury is pleased with this:

“The long term solution is to create a new culture in the Supreme Court where delays are not acceptable. The once off funding injection and the new court procedures announced today will help create a conducive work environment for that new culture to develop.

“The Government have had failed attempts at court reform in the past. The difference this time around is that the Government have sat down and discussed the issue with the legal profession rather than unilaterally announcing a decision without consultation.

“The blitz that has been announced today is positive because it is a targeted plan that will cut into the backlog and has the support of all the people who will be called on to implement it.

“I congratulate all the groups that have worked together to formulate this plan, including the Government, the courts, the Law Society, Bar Association, the DPP and Legal Aid”, Mr Rattenbury said.

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