Changing trend - Clearance rates improve in Supreme Court

The latest Report on Government Services for the ACT Courts shows improvements in the number of cases being completed in the Supreme Court, Attorney General, Simon Corbell, said.

The criminal clearance rate in the Supreme Court was 105.8 per cent while the civil clearance rate was 127.4 per cent.

"It is pleasing to see that government measures, particularly in the Supreme Court, are beginning to take effect but there is still much work to do on this issue," Mr Corbell.

"The Government recently joined with the courts to announce a blitz on cases in the ACT Supreme Court and these figures, while positive, demonstrate that the blitz is the right course of action.

"It is crucial that this issue is acted on swiftly so that all Canberrans have adequate access to the ACT justice system."

Clearance rates compare matters finalised with the number of matter lodged each year.

Over the past five years, civil and criminal cases in the ACT Supreme Court have spiked but now are returning to levels seen in 2006/07.

Mr Corbell said while there was an improving clearance rate, the number of cases lodged has reduced which is a factor in reducing the backlog.

"The Government has provided funding for acting judges to assist the Supreme Court in bringing a number of matters forward for hearing and to allow the court return to a ‘business as usual' approach," Mr Corbell said.

"At the same time, the court intends to move to a docket system to more actively manage cases and we have introduced significant legislative reform to ensure that less serious matters are heard by the Magistrates Court rather than the Supreme Court."

"This should ensure ongoing timely case finalisations and that any future spikes in lodgements can be more readily managed," Mr Corbell said.

"The Government will continue to work with the courts to ensure that these changes are fully effective."

"I would like to thank the judiciary and staff of the ACT Law Courts and Tribunal for their ongoing efforts to improve the timely finalisations of cases and the legal profession for their support for the blitz," Mr Corbell said.