The following is a statement from the President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Arthur Moses SC
"The New South Wales Bar Association welcomes today's announcement by the Attorney General of an additional seven additional permanent judges for the District Court of NSW. The Bar Association has been very concerned for some time about the lack of resourcing and other support for District Court judges in the face of a crushing workload. The lack of resources has resulted in long delays in matters being heard, which unacceptably impacts adversely on defendants, witnesses and victims of crime. The stress on victims caused by delays is of significant concern.
The increase in judicial resources announced by the Attorney General will help address these issues and also alleviate the pressures being experienced by judges given the Court's current workload. However the Bar Association is also of the view that a comprehensive review of Court's jurisdiction, structure and processes is required to identify systemic issues that may affect the proper and timely administration of justice. We have prepared and provided the Attorney General with draft terms of reference for a comprehensive review of the Court and its practices and urge the Government to institute such a review as soon as possible".
