Call For Judges To Deal With Logjam

The Age

Monday September 15, 2008

Peter Gregory, Law Reporter

BARRISTERS have called on the State Government to appoint more judges to overcome a logjam in the County Court criminal list.

One lawyer said pre-sentence hearings for offenders who were pleading guilty to serious charges were being adjourned until May and June next year.

Short trials of four or five days' duration have been put off until July or August.

"By the time you get to court, you are dealing with (an alleged offence) that is three or four years old," the barrister said.

"Look at the crime list on Monday. You will see a number of reserve matters (trials and pre-sentence hearings on reserve waiting for a judge to hear them). There's obvious problems."

The County Court crime and appeals list today contains 74 items, including 36 described as either a directions or mention hearing, trial reserve or a further case conference.

The list says 25 judges have been allocated to hear the cases, with another 18 judges sent to hearings in rural Victoria, and other courts and agencies.

Criminal Bar Association chairman John Champion, SC, said Victorian laws made sex offence cases a priority. He said a resource package, including more judges, was needed to achieve this without putting an immense strain on the County Court system.

A Government spokesman said the County Court had an extra two judges this year. He said the sex cases initiative had been successful, and had improved the reporting of sexual offences. The spokesman said the Government was monitoring its effect on the courts.

© 2008 The Age

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