Protocol for predictable sitting hours in the Federal and Local Courts

05/12/2014

President Jane Needham SC recently wrote to the chief justice of the Federal Court and the chief magistrate of the Local Court in relation to the predictability of sitting hours.

The Federal Court of Australia has circulated a memorandum to all judges noting the relevant issues and requesting that as much notice as possible is given to the profession and the parties and that they are consulted about any possible difficulty in relation to a matter. The chief justice’s memorandum notes that ‘in considering whether or not to set or extend court hours, it is, of course, relevant to consider the family or other carer responsibilities of practitioners and parties’.

The chief magistrate of the Local Court has agreed to accept the proposed protocol contained in the president’s letter dated 10 November 2014.