Concerns about courtroom communication, preparation standards and adjournment practices were raised directly with members of the judiciary this week at a rare in-person forum convened following correspondence from the Criminal Law Committee of The Law Association of New Zealand.

Criminal practitioners from across Auckland, North Shore and Waitākere attended the session, which was arranged after the Committee wrote to the Chief District Court Judge outlining issues affecting day-to-day criminal practice.

Discussion centred on practical matters including continuity of representation, scheduling constraints, the management of adjournments and expectations around preparation. Practitioners also spoke about the pressures of modern criminal practice, including long hours, overlapping court commitments and the strain of managing vulnerable clients across multiple jurisdictions.

Members of the judiciary in turn outlined the operational constraints within which they are working, including listing pressures, resource limitations and the need to maintain efficiency and timeliness across busy court calendars.

Samira Taghavi, member of the Law Association’s Criminal Law Committee, said the discussion was constructive and grounded in practical realities.

“Practitioners were able to speak frankly about how communication, scheduling and preparation expectations are playing out in practice,” she said.

“There was acknowledgement on all sides that the pressures within the criminal justice system are significant and that clarity and consistency in process are critical to maintaining fairness and professional sustainability.”

The forum provided an opportunity for judges and practitioners to hear directly from one another about the cumulative impact of administrative and procedural demands on the effective conduct of criminal proceedings.

Julie-Anne Kincade KC, convenor of the Law Association’s Criminal Law Committee, said the session met expectations and reinforced the importance of ongoing dialogue.

“It is not often that there is dedicated space for this level of exchange between the bench and the bar,” she said.

“The willingness of the judiciary to engage directly with these issues was welcomed. A well-functioning criminal justice system depends on open communication and a shared understanding of the practical realities facing those who work within it.”

Chief Executive of The Law Association of New Zealand Clayton Kimpton who attended the forum said The Law Association strongly supported the profession coming together to openly and frankly identify the pressure points within the court system.

“Creating space for candid, solution-focused conversations between the judiciary and the legal profession is critical, and it was encouraging to see this dialogue taking place in a constructive and collaborative way.”

The Law Association said it would continue to facilitate engagement between the profession and the judiciary to support fairness, efficiency and the sustainability of criminal practice.

View the media release here – Media Release – Criminal forum highlights pressure points in courtroom communication and scheduling