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Annual Review 2002
Introduction
This Annual Review provides information of the Court’s stewardship of the resources made available to it for the purposes of the administration of justice in NSW. It represents one of the many ways in which the Court meets contemporary expectations of accountability of the judiciary to the people of the State.
A focal point of interest and, often, of concern about the courts has been delay in bringing cases to finality. Over many years the Supreme Court has reviewed its practices and devoted considerable judicial time to the creation and implementation of case management systems. Additional resources have been made available to the Court both by way of extra Judges and funding for Acting Judges. The Court has attracted a number of highly experienced retired superior court judges as well as arranging secondments from other courts.
For some years the Court has been reducing the substantial backlog of cases that had built up. This has reduced delays in all areas of the Court’s jurisdiction. In some priority areas, such as criminal trials, the reduction has been substantial. Further progress is possible and, in 2003, I expect the gains to be consolidated. Nevertheless, by the end of 2002 it can be said that the reduction in delays has been so substantial that this longstanding concern has been significantly alleviated.
This is not, however, cause for complacency. In the administration of justice, as in all areas of government, the search for improved ways of doing things is ongoing. In the years ahead priority will focus on reducing costs, not just to the consolidated revenue, significant as that may be, but to the parties. Delay has, of course, been a major cause of wasted resources. Other possibilities of reducing the costs that the system imposes on parties require continual review.
Of particular significance in this respect is the development of a new operating system called CourtLink which, after many years of false starts, now promises to substantially enhance the ability of this Court, and all other agencies and courts involved in the administration of justice, to deploy information technology to the best and most efficient effect.
The matters discussed in this Review are significant but, it must be said, do not reflect the most important contributions that the Supreme Court makes to the people of this State. It is through the transparent fairness of its procedures and the quality of its judgments that the Court promotes and maintains the rule of law as the fundamental underpinning of our social stability and economic prosperity. Such contributions impose limits on the extent to which cases can be speeded up and costs reduced. The palpable success of the administration of justice in this regard is seen in the high quality of the daily life of the residents of the State.
The Honourable J J Spigelman AC
Chief Justice of New South Wales
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