Supreme Court - Revised Practice Direction 19 issued

The Chief Justice has today signed a revised version of the Supreme Court’s main Statutory Practice Direction SC 19. Parties are requested to note the revisions and reacquaint themselves with the provisions of the practice direction, particularly, the time limit requirements and the detailed provisions mandating the format for the filing of compliant books of appeal and other documentation.

The main revisions are:

• Provision for the return to physical appeal hearings in October. Case management hearings and other court business will continue to be conducted remotely unless a party puts forward cogent reasons why a physical hearing is necessary.
• The setting of an indicative timeline for the hearing of an appeal (13 to 16 weeks from the grant of leave to appeal) which the parties are expected to adhere to unless the case management judge gives other directions in a particular case. Parties should note that any failure in this regard that jeopardises the timeline may have costs implications.
• The incorporation of case management and additional procedures introduced at the beginning of the pandemic which the Court believes have worked effectively and which contribute to the just and efficient determination of appeals and applications.
• Provision for a time limit not to be applied during the month of August (with the exception of the time limited for filing of an application for leave to appeal) and for a two week period at Christmas. The Court anticipates that parties will strictly adhere to time limits at all other times.

30^th September, 2021