Practitioners are reminded of their obligations under Practice Direction 5 of 2024. It establishes a structured case-management framework designed to promote the efficient and timely resolution of criminal proceedings in the Brisbane Registry.
The Court has brought to the Queensland Law Society’s attention that practitioners are failing to appear at review hearings which is in breach of the relevant rules and practice direction. Practitioners are also reminded of their paramount duty to the court and their ethical duties of competency and courtesy.
The Practice Direction sets out several reasonable expectations which includes that practitioners will appear at all review hearings listed under the Practice Direction. Review hearings are a central mechanism through which the Criminal List Judge and Criminal Resolutions Registrar supervise the progress of matters, ensure compliance with timeframes and avoid unnecessary delay.
In accordance with the Practice Direction, practitioners appearing at a review hearing must:
- be appropriately informed about the status of the proceeding;
- hold clear and current instructions sufficient to progress the matter;
- be prepared to identify the next procedural step, including whether the matter is ready to be listed for sentence, pre-trial hearing or trial.
Failure to appear undermines the orderly management of the Criminal List. The Court expects that all legal practitioners appearing in criminal matters will comply with the Practice Direction and with their overarching obligations to the Court.
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