Federal Court of Australia

Olympic period

From Monday 11 September 2000 until Friday 29 September 2000 no cases will be listed for directions or hearing in the New South Wales Registry of the Court other than urgent applications before the Duty Judge or, in special circumstances in a particular case, where the Docket Judge directs otherwise.

This period coincides with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The decision not to list cases during this period follows consultation within the Court and with professional organisations and has regard to the transport difficulties for litigants, the legal profession, witnesses, court personnel and court reporters anticipated during the Olympics.

Duty Judges and Registrars will be available throughout the period to deal with urgent applications and an appropriate level of registry services will be maintained.

Practice Note No 7, issued by the Chief Justice on 8 April 1994, sets out the procedure required for obtaining a hearing during the Court's vacation. This Practice Note provides a useful guide to any party who might be seeking a hearing during the Olympic period. A copy of that Practice Note can be found on the Court's Internet Home Page at http://www.fedcourt.gov.au or can be provided on request to any Registry.

Litigants and practitioners are reminded that the Olympic period will not be a "vacation" within the meaning of Order 3 rule 5 of the Federal Court Rules and that, as a result, time will continue to run for all purposes, unless the Court orders otherwise.

Litigants and practitioners are also reminded that the Federal Court Rules allow for filing by mail, document exchange and facsimile (Order 1 rules 5A and 5AB) and making of orders on written consent of all parties to a proceeding being filed (Order 35 rule 10). To avoid having to come to the Registry during the Olympic period to file documents or obtain orders, litigants and practitioners may take advantage of these provisions.

John Mathieson
District Registrar
16 February 2000