Consultation/liaison user groups
- South Australia Liaison Committee
MINUTES
Monday, 18 February 2002 at 8.30am
Venue: Level 9 Conference Room, 25 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
Present: Justice J W von Doussa
Justice M F O’Loughlin
Justice J R Mansfield
Patricia Christie
Stephen Connell
Scip Lipman
John Wilkinson
Neville Rochow
Kevin Nicholson
Denys Simpson
Richard Townsend
Arlene MacDonald
1. Introduction
Justice von Doussa thanked all for
attending. He then recapped on the purpose of the meetings,
that is primarily to provide a mechanism for two-way communication
between the Court and practitioners and a venue for discussion
of current issues and projects.
It was agreed that meetings be held
2-3 times per year with the next meeting to be held in
approximately 6 months. An 8.30am commencement time was
agreed upon as appropriate.
2. Update re new Commonwealth Law Courts
Building
Justice von Doussa informed the meeting
of the progress of new CLC Building and briefly discussed
the plans of the Ground Floor and Federal Court Registry/Courtroom
Floors.
3. Individual Docket System
Justice von Doussa advised that the
individual docket system is under review. He invited feedback
either individually or collegiately on what is or is not
working with the individual docket system. He also noted
that feedback is being sought from the Law Council.
Arlene MacDonald advised that from
her experience (which has been mostly in tax matters)
the IDS is working very well - the continuity it provides
greatly assists efficiency and she has no negative comments
at all.
4. Pro Bono Issues
Justice von Doussa asked for views
on the pro bono system as currently in place. He indicated
that the Judges in SA had been making only a limited number
of orders in an attempt not to overburden the profession.
He queried whether more were wanted to cover the informal
representation provided by Jeremy Moore in migration cases.
Denys Simpson said he will follow up.
5. E-Filing
Patricia Christie gave an update on
e-filing. Some of the members present were unaware of
its existence. Members suggested that if consideration
has not already been given to publicising its existence
via the following, they may be useful avenues:
· Sole Practitioners Committee
of the Law Society
· State Legal Convention
Patricia indicated that the Registry
were also happy to visit firms to provide on-site training
if necessary. She will also liaise with the Supreme Court
re publicity/progress/use of their system.
Denys Simpson indicated a system allowing
parties to electronically scroll files for documents filed
existed in the Supreme Court and was very useful. Discussion
then turned to the e-Court initiatives in the Court and
Mansfield J gave a brief outline of the progress in this
area.
