Information for the profession regarding reserved judgements in the District Court, with specific information on Family and Youth Court judgment timeframes.

INFORMATION REGARDING RESERVED JUDGMENTS

Section 218(a) District Court Act 2016

District Court and Family Court:

1.     Wherever possible, the Court aims to deliver judgment, or reasons for judgment, within one month of the conclusion of the hearing.  This cannot always be attained, either because of the nature of the particular case or because workload commitments of the judge preclude it.  There is an expectation that 90% of all judgments or reasons for judgments will be delivered within three months.

Youth Court:

2.     Wherever possible, the Court aims to deliver judgment, or reasons for judgment, within two weeks of the conclusion of the hearing.  This cannot always be attained, either because of the nature of the particular case or because workload commitments of the judge preclude it.  There is an expectation that 90% of all judgments or reasons for judgments will be delivered within three weeks.

All courts:

3.     Where any individual judgment or reasons for judgment is not delivered within the 3 month or 3 week period referred to above, a party may inquire in writing of the Chief District Court Judge in the case of a District Court matter, the Principal Family Court Judge in the case of a Family Court matter or the Principal Youth Court Judge in the case of a Youth Court matter, about progress of the judgment.
4.     For the purpose of this procedure a “party” includes a prosecutor, plaintiff, applicant, defendant, respondent or the subject of any proceeding.  Counsel or an advocate representing any party may make an inquiry.
5.     The inquiry is not a part of the Court record.
6.     The party making the inquiry shall deliver a copy of it to all other parties to the matter the subject of judgment or to their counsel/advocate.
7.     The identify of a party making such inquiry is not to be disclosed to:

•    any judicial officer other than the Chief District Court Judge or the relevant Principal Judge; and

•    any other person except any other party.

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