Courts Minister Rejects Criticism of Courts
Courts Minister Rick Barker Rejects Criticism of Courts
"Our courts are better placed than ever to
respond to increasing workloads," says Courts Minister Rick
Barker. Mr Barker said, that blaming courts for delays
was "a simplistic approach" and "not all waiting time in the
court system should automatically be classed as
delays". "We have invested $156 million in
revitalising Court infrastructure and capability which has
achieved results. In the 2006-07-year 75 per cent of cases
in the criminal summary jurisdiction of the District Court
were resolved within 12 weeks." Mr Barker said this
funding had enabled the courts to dispose of more cases. "In
the 2006-07 year jury trial disposals in the High Court
improved by 9.4 per cent over the previous two year period
to 339 cases, and this is mirrored in the District Court
where disposals improved by eight per cent over the same
period to approximately 165,000 cases." Mr Barker said
that digital evidence recording and transcription services
had been expanded "and it is estimated that this technology
will reduce court hearing time by between 20-30 per cent. In
relation to court buildings Mr Barker said that 41 "building
projects" had been completed over the past nine years since
1999. "This includes five new courthouses and 28
refurbishments."
Mr Barker said that one stay was one too
many and in every case he had asked for a detailed review in
order to identify why the stay occurred and if processes
could be improved. "However, it is worth noting that in the
2006-07 year our courts disposed of over 165,000 cases
during the last year in comparison to 18 stays granted
during the same period. "In addition not all waiting time
in the court system should automatically be classed as
delay, there are a number of steps involved in bringing a
case to trial and all parties are entitled to prepare and
present their case. While it is very easy to blame the court
for delays, such a simplistic approach ignores the fact that
court staff are required to coordinate the judiciary,
prosecution, defence, witnesses, victims, scientific and
special evidence and in some cases jurors. "Any of these
parties may have reasons for being unable to attend on the
agreed day for reasons such as sickness, and this is often
beyond the direct control of the court." Mr Barker said the
court and courts staff were "responding to increased
pressure due to increased workloads". ENDS
Mr Barker said the government valued the
administration of justice and "is working hard to ensure all
New Zealanders have modern, safe, and timely access to court
services. An extra 15 Judges have been appointed to the
District Court, two to the High Court and two in the Court
of Appeal and 24 new courtrooms have been inserted into the
court system since 2000.