Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill
The Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill aims to modify several Acts to improve the efficiency of the justice system. It proposes to increase the maximum number of High Court Judges from 55 to 65. The bill also introduces new provisions to address plainly abusive civil proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, allowing Registrars to refer such cases to a Judge and enabling Judges to strike out these proceedings or issue directions. Furthermore, it establishes an automatic restraint on individuals from commencing or continuing civil proceedings if they have had two abusive proceedings struck out within two years. The bill also includes amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 to allow for the management of pre-trial processes for multiple charges in different District Court offices to be handled in a single office, and permits Court of Appeal Judges to remit certain first appeals to the High Court. Finally, it amends the Coroners Act 2006 to allow coroners to close inquiries under new circumstances.
What this affects
Tap a topic to see how this bill touches it — with the parts of the text it’s based on.
The bill makes several changes intended to improve the timeliness and efficiency of the justice system, including increasing the number of High Court Judges, addressing abusive civil proceedings, and streamlining criminal pre-trial processes and appeals.
In section 7(1), (2)(c), and (3), replace “55” with “60” . (1) Replace section 7(1) with: (1) The number of High Court Judges appointed from time to time referred to in section 6(2)(b) must — (a) not be fewer than 60; and (b) not exceed 65.
New sections 164A to 164C and cross-headings inserted Striking out or otherwise dealing with plainly abusive civil proceeding 164A Registrar may refer plainly abusive civil proceeding to Judge
164C Automatic restraint on persons from commencing or continuing civil proceeding
156A Pre-trial processes for 2 or more proceedings in different District Court offices may be managed in single office
319A Judge of Court of Appeal may remit first appeal, or application for leave to appeal to first appeal court, to High Court
Progress through Parliament
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Have your say
Submissions open once a bill reaches the select committee stage. In the meantime, you can write to your local MP about it.
Write to your MPBill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.