District Court changes come into effect on Monday

Two changes in the District Court are coming into effect on Monday as the judiciary reacts to the escalating industrial action in the courts.

The New Zealand Law Society said that Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue has advised of the following changes she is making:

• “With effect from 19 November 2018 the sessions of the District Court shall be altered to align the morning, lunch and afternoon adjournments with those being taken by court staff.”
• "It is no longer orderly or efficient to roster or schedule judges beyond the existing rosters, and cases that cannot be allocated an event or a hearing will be recorded on a ready list for scheduling at a later date."

The chief judge said that she appreciates that the legal profession will be impacted by the changes, but that she is counting on the profession’s cooperation and goodwill “to help keep the wheels of justice turning for people who need access to justice and who rely on the District Court.”