💬 Debates

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

Part 2 Disclosure to Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct

Part 1 Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Judicial Conduct Panel

Part 2 Judicial immunity, number of Judges, principal Judges, part-time Judges, and other matters relating to judicial officers

I gave two examples the other day, both of which I think bear repeating because they reflect the reality of life in the courts. The reality of life in the courts is that because there is a requirement to schedule cases, counsel are asked to make estimates of how long a case will last. Now, if we are to deal with what the Government apparently contemplates, which is a part-time judge or judges, we will find there will be occasions when such a part-time judge is simply unable to sit on all days of the week. So a 4-day case is ruled out for the part-time judge, and a 3-day case may also be ruled out. Those who have knowledge of the criminal and civil courts, in particular, will know that many cases run for those sorts of periods. What is the outcome? It is that the burden will be transferred on to the full-time judges in a way that is neither fair nor equitable. But that comment applies in the circumstance of scheduling where an accurate estimate is made of how long a case will last. It is often the case—and I instanced this to members the other day—that a case trickles on. It not only runs a day over the estimated time, but it may run 2 days over. In fact, there have been instances in recent times where the hearing duration of significant commercial cases has been hugely underestimated. So there will be the situation where a case runs on, and the part-time judge says he or she cannot continue to sit on the case.

Schedule 1AA Overview of process for Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Judicial Conduct Panel

Schedule 1 Provisions relating to Judicial Conduct Commissioner and members of Judicial Conduct Panel

Schedule 2 Amendments consequential upon change of title of Master of the High Court

Clauses 1 and 2

Procedure

Part 1 Amendments to principal Act

Part 2 Miscellaneous provisions

Clauses 1 and 1A

Procedure

Second Reading

Third Reading

Consideration of Report of Local Government and Environment Committee

Second Reading

Second Reading

Second Reading