I, David Barniville, President of the High Court, hereby issue the following Practice Direction in accordance with the general authority of the President of the High Court and s. 11(12) and (13) of the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020.
- Having regard to Section 23(3) of the Judicial Council Act 2019 and S.I. No. 660 of 2018 - Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(7): Superior Courts) Rules 2018, as amended, a court officer or a member of the staff of the Courts Service authorised by the Chief Executive Officer of the Courts Service may provide access to such court documents in cases in the Central Criminal Court as the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council shall request, and to such person or persons as that committee shall have authorised to act on its behalf.
- The Secretary to the Judicial Council shall provide the name or names of the person or persons so authorised to the Chief Executive Officer of the Courts Service or her or his nominee.
- For the purposes of this Practice Direction, a document has the same meaning as defined in the Judicial Council Act 2019.
- This Practice Direction shall come into operation on 2nd March 2026
Mr. Justice David Barniville
President of the High Court
25 February 2026
