Practice Notes

Case management of criminal proceedings in the Local Court

This Practice Note consolidates and replaces a number of practice notes in the criminal jurisdiction. Issued 24 April 2012 Commences 1 May 2012

Amended: 18 December 2020

• Practice Note: Criminal Crim 1 (PDF , 531.2 KB)(PDF , 441.9 KB)
• Practice Note: Criminal Crim 1  (DOC , 485.0 KB)

Attachments:

• A – Notice of appearance (PDF , 78.7 KB)
• A – Notice of appearance  (DOC , 34.5 KB)
• B – Listing advice  (PDF , 148.8 KB)
• B – Listing advice  (DOC , 57.0 KB)
• C – Application to vacate a hearing (PDF , 286.7 KB)
• C – Application to vacate a hearing (DOC , 96.0 KB)
• D – Application to Give Evidence Via AVL (PDF , 143.7 KB)
• D – Application to Give Evidence Via AVL (DOC , 56.5 KB)
• E - Evidence of Domestic Violence Complainant in Criminal Proceedings (PDF , 172.5 KB) (PDF, 172 KB)
• E - Evidence of Domestic Violence Complainant in Criminal Proceedings (DOC , 127.0 KB) (DOC, 127 KB)

Domestic and Personal Violence Proceedings

Issued 24 April 2012. Commences 1 May 2012.

• Practice Note: Domestic Violence Matters – 2/2012 (PDF, 168.0 KB)
• Practice Note: Domestic Violence Matters – 2/2012 (DOC, 145.5 KB).

Attachments:

• Timetable for Statements (PDF, 17.9 KB)
• Timetable for Statements (DOC, 42.5 KB).

Specialist Family Violence List

Commences 25 September 2023.

• Practice Note: Specialist Family Violence List (PDF, 771.6 KB)

Amended 19 April 2024. Commences 6 May 2024.

• Practice Note: Specialist Family Violence List (PDF, 250.9 KB)

Attachments:

• Annexure 1 – Prosecution Notice of Readiness (PDF, 116.4 KB)
• Annexure 1 – Prosecution Notice of Readiness (DOCX, 30.9 KB)
• Annexure 2 – Defence Notice of Readiness (PDF, 67.3 KB)
• Annexure 2 – Defence Notice of Readiness (DOCX, 28.3 KB)

Procedures to be adopted for committal hearings in the Local Court – prior

This Practice Note consolidates and replaces a number of practice notes in relation to committal proceedings following the repeal of the Criminal Case Conferencing Trial Act 2008. Issued 24 April 2012. Commences 1 May 2012, and only applies to offences commenced prior to the 30 April 2018.

Amended: 23 June 2017

• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 1 (PDF , 276.7 KB)
• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 1 (DOC , 162.0 KB).

Attachments:

• Summary of processes of criminal matters in the Local Court (PDF , 46.0 KB)
• Summary of processes of criminal matters in the Local Court (DOC , 40.5 KB).

Procedures to be adopted for committal hearings in the Local Court

This Practice Note relates to all relevant offences for committal proceedings commenced on or after 30 April 2018.

Issued: 14 March 2018

• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 2 (PDF, 390.4 KB)
• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 2 (DOC, 238.0 KB).

Attachments:

• Progress of Committal Proceedings through the Local Court-Comm 2 (PDF, 144.7 KB)

This Practice Note will apply to committal proceedings relating to offences commenced on or after 9 January 2023

• Local Court Practice Note-Comm 3 (PDF, 376.6 KB)
• Local Court Practice Note-Comm 3 (DOC, 343.5 KB)
• Progress of Committal Proceedings through the Local Court - Attachment A (PDF, 87.0 KB)

For matters commenced before 9 January 2023, the previous Practice Note (Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 2) applies. 

Civil Procedure

This version of the Practice Note was published on, and is to have effect from, 25 June 2022. Please Note: the below attachments relate only to the current Practice Note Civ 1 (25 June 2022)

• Practice Note Civ 1 (PDF , 452.9 KB)
• Practice Note Civ 1 (DOC , 531.0 KB)

Attachments to the current Practice Note:

• A – General Division Standard Directions (PDF , 78.1 KB)
• A – General Division Standard Directions (DOC , 95.5 KB)
• B – Civil Listing Advice (PDF , 68.9 KB)
• B – Civil Listing Advice (DOC , 98.0 KB)
• C – Application for Witness to Give evidence via Audio Visual Link Facilities (PDF , 102.2 KB)
• C – Application for Witness to Give evidence via Audio Visual Link Facilities (DOC , 98.0 KB)
• D – Pre-Trial Review Sheet (PDF , 42.3 KB)
• D – Pre-Trial Review Sheet (DOC , 78.0 KB)
• E – Small Claims Division Case Management (PDF , 61.3 KB)
• E – Small Claims Division Case Management (DOC , 87.0 KB)
• Approved Lists – Online Court (PDF , 57.6 KB)

For matters commenced on or before 24 June 2022, the previous Practice Note (amended 24 May 2019) applies.

• May 2019 Practice Note Civ 1 (PDF , 649.3 KB)
• May 2019 Practice Note Civ  1 (DOC , 319.0 KB)

Online Court (civil claims)

Forms a part of the Consolidated Civil Practice Note Civ 1 (Above) from 15 March 2019. Please refer to Part I of the Practice Note.

Practice Note: Online Court 1 of 2015 – Please see Part I of PN Civ 1.

Form of address in court

Reissued pursuant to section 27 Local Court Act 2007. Issued 1 April 2004.

• Practice Note: General 1/2004 (PDF , 16.0 KB)
• Practice Note: General 1/2004. (DOC , 34.5 KB)

Identity theft prevention and anonymisation policy

Reissued pursuant to section 27 Local Court Act 2007. Commenced 7 April 2008.

• Practice Note: 1/2008 (PDF , 74.7 KB)
• Practice Note: 1/2008. (DOC , 115.0 KB)

Recording of court proceedings

Supersedes PN 2 of 2008. Issued 19 July 2013.

• Practice Note: 1/2013 (PDF , 25.2 KB)
• Practice Note: 1/2013 (DOC , 38.0 KB).

Attachments:

• Form of Application by Media Representative (PDF , 60.5 KB)
• Form of Application by Media Representative (DOC , 131.5 KB).

Coroner's Practice Note

• 1 of 2018 (PDF , 1.3 MB)
• 2 of 2018 (PDF , 587.2 KB).

Circulars

• Chief Magistrate's Office - Use of Devices in Court (PDF , 150.1 KB)

For enquiries about Practice Notes, including revoked Practice Notes, please contact the Chief Magistrate's Office at cmo@justice.nsw.gov.au