Attack on backlog of District Court cases showing dramatic results

18/4/95

The State Government's attack on the backlog of criminal cases in the District Court was showing dramatic results, Attorney General and Minister for Justice Cheryl Edwardes said today.

Mrs Edwardes said that during the last two months the backlog had been reduced by 106 cases or 17 per cent.

"At the end of January, the case backlog stood at 633, but it dropped to 527 by the end of March," she said.

"This is very encouraging, especially as it is the result of a commitment by all the parties involved - the judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Legal Aid, the Law Society, the legal profession generally, and the Ministry of Justice.

"The Government's measures to reduce the backlog include the appointment of two new District Court judges, as well as a commissioner for six months, and the addition of two extra criminal courtrooms.

"However, one of the most important initiatives is the 'flexi-listing' system, which enables cases to be quickly slotted into courtrooms not being used because trials have been adjourned for some reason.

"This means that courtrooms are being used almost continuously and some cases, which may have had to wait for anything up to a year to be heard, can be dealt with in two to three months."

Mrs Edwardes said the backlog reduction through the 'flexi-listing' system had been complemented by the success of a 'fast-tracking' system for District Court cases where offenders had previously pleaded guilty in the Court of Petty Sessions.

Using this system, a District Court judge was able to hear about 10 guilty pleas in one sitting, each week.

"In March, out of a total of 143 new cases coming into the District Court, 81 were sent to the 'fast track' system," Mrs Edwardes said.

"With another 23 offenders pleading guilty when their cases reached the District Court, 104 cases were disposed of by pleas of guilty.

"This has made an enormous difference to the throughput of matters at the court."

Mrs Edwardes said these measures are assisting in the delivery of justice to the people of Western Australia.

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777