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CASE MANAGEMENT
Civil matters pertaining to claims above
the value of $250,000 and probate matters where the value of the deceased’s
estate exceeds $3 million are commenced in the High Court. Contested
ancillary matters involving the division of matrimonial assets asserted to
be worth $1.5 million or more in gross value are also heard in the High
Court. In addition, Companies Winding-Up proceedings, Admiralty proceedings,
Bankruptcy proceedings and Admissions of advocates and solicitors are solely
dealt with in the High Court.
Criminal matters involving offences
carrying capital punishment or offences that are punishable with
imprisonment terms exceeding ten years also come before the High Court.
The High Court also handles both civil
and criminal appeals arising from the decisions made in the Subordinate
Courts. Appeals arising from the decisions of the High Court are heard in
the Court of Appeal.
The clearance rate for all civil and
criminal matters for 2004 was 98%. This was higher than the clearance rate
of 95% for 2003. The clearance rate for all civil and criminal matters for
the period of 2003 and 2004 are depicted in the diagram below.
Originating processes and interlocutory
applications registered a higher clearance rate of 99% and 97% in 2004 as
compared to 97% and 94% in 2003 respectively. It is worth noting that
admiralty writs had a clearance rate of 182%; implying that for every
admiralty writ filed, almost 2 were disposed of.
For criminal matters in 2004, the number
of cases filed was the same as the number of cases disposed of. This was
similar to the clearance rate for criminal matters in 2003 which was 102%.
The clearance rate for appellate civil
matters in 2004 was significantly higher at 111%, as compared to 90% for
2003. This was largely attributable to the clearance rate of 100% and above
for civil applications before the Court of Appeal, Registrar’s Appeals, and
Small Claims Tribunal appeals.
There was a marginal decline from 103%
to 95% in the clearance rate for appellate criminal matters in 2004 as
compared to the corresponding period of 2003.
The volume of caseload and disposal of
civil and criminal matters, including enforcement proceedings, for 2003 and
2004 are provided in the tables that follow.1
CASELOAD
The number of civil and criminal matters
filed in the Supreme Court in 2003 and 2004 is illustrated in the following
tables. In 2004, the Supreme Court received a total of 19,344 new matters.
This comprised 17,566 original civil matters, 68 original criminal matters,
811 appellate civil matters, 147 appellate criminal matters and 752 taxation
and enforcement proceedings.
The following table provides the number
of civil and criminal matters disposed of by the Supreme Court in 2003 and
2004. In 2004, the Supreme Court disposed of a total of 18,284 matters. This
comprised 17,174 original civil matters, 68 original criminal matters, 903
appellate civil matters and 139 appellate criminal matters.
1 2003 figures provided are based on the period from November
2002 to October 2003. Similarly, 2004 figures provided are for the period of
November 2003 to October 2004.
2 Registrar’s Appeals include matters arising from the decision
of a registrar in both the High Court and the Subordinate Courts.
3 These include Warrant for Committal for Contempt of Court,
Order for Attachment under the Debtor’s Act, Writ of Delivery
and Order pursuant to Section 23 of the Distress Act.
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