❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Attorney General regarding increased trial wait times in the Supreme Court, staffing levels, and potential resource deficiencies. The Attorney General attributes delays to increased homicide case lodgements and denies that support staff shortages are a factor.
AnsweredQoN 1395Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 2 at page 435, "Outcomes and Key Effectiveness Indicators", line item Supreme Court – Time to trial, and ask: (a) what is the reason for the increase in time to trial of two weeks, from 26 weeks to 28 weeks, from 2012-13 to 2013-14; (b) how many Supreme Court Judges were there in 2006; (c) how many Supreme Court Judges were there in 2013; (d) how many Supreme Court trials were heard in 2006; (e) how many Supreme Court trials were heard in 2013; (f) as the Chief Justice Martin has been quoted questioning the judicial resources available to the Supreme Court, is a deficiency in the number of judges contributing to longer waiting times; (g) when did the freeze on staff recruitment for support staff for the Supreme Court commence; (h) how many vacancies currently exist at the Supreme Court, and please detail the position titles; and (i) is a lack of support staff contributing to longer waiting times?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2014
Response time
37 days
(a) A 38% increase in the demand for trials, particularly in homicide and related offences.
(b) There were 20 Judges (including one Supreme Court Judge appointed to the State Administrative Tribunal).
(c) There were 20 Judges (including one Supreme Court Judge appointed to the State Administrative Tribunal).
(d) 71 criminal trials and 55 civil trials.
(e) 42 criminal trials and 53 civil trials.
(f) The cause of the increased medium time to trial for criminal cases appears to be a spike in the number of criminal case lodgments caused by an increase in homicide lodgments. Whether this is a short term event or part of a longer term trend is yet to be determined.
(g) From 17 April 2014 to 30 June 2014.
(h) Two vacancies - Level 5 Manager, Listings and Level 3 Court Technology Officer.
(i) No.
(b) There were 20 Judges (including one Supreme Court Judge appointed to the State Administrative Tribunal).
(c) There were 20 Judges (including one Supreme Court Judge appointed to the State Administrative Tribunal).
(d) 71 criminal trials and 55 civil trials.
(e) 42 criminal trials and 53 civil trials.
(f) The cause of the increased medium time to trial for criminal cases appears to be a spike in the number of criminal case lodgments caused by an increase in homicide lodgments. Whether this is a short term event or part of a longer term trend is yet to be determined.
(g) From 17 April 2014 to 30 June 2014.
(h) Two vacancies - Level 5 Manager, Listings and Level 3 Court Technology Officer.
(i) No.
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