Consolidated practice directions

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Refer to Practice Direction 5.6. 

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7. Court of Appeal 
 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
7.6
Published Written Sentencing Remarks (refer to 
PD 5.7) 
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Refer to Practice Direction 5.7. 

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8. Reasons for Decision 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
8.
Reasons for Decision 
8.1
Delivery of Reserved Decisions and Reasons for 
Decision 
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Timelines 
 
1. 
The general policy is that a reserved decision should be delivered as 
soon as possible after the completion of the hearing. 
2. 
Judges in the Court of Appeal Division endeavour to deliver all reserved 
decisions in both civil and criminal cases within approximately three (3) 
months of them being heard. Naturally, in some cases it is necessary to 
deliver the decision as a matter of urgency. 
3. 
In the case of civil actions, the aim is generally to also deliver decisions 
within three (3) months of the action being heard. After a particularly 
long trial, it may be necessary for some additional time to be made 
available. 
4. 
If it is anticipated that there may be a longer than usual delay in the 
delivery of a reserved decision, a Judge may inform the parties of a 'not 
before' date for delivery at the time the decision is reserved. 
5. 
In those cases where the Master has reserved a decision, the aim is that 
the decision will be delivered as soon as practicable. 
6. 
It is difficult to lay down hard and fast time limits. There are times 
when the pressure of business in the Court is very great and the time 
available to individual Judges for writing reasons for decision is 
insufficient. 
7. 
Practitioners should not feel inhibited from making inquiries regarding 
the progress of a decision which has not been delivered within the 
periods indicated above. Such inquiries should be addressed to the 
Associate to the Presiding Judge in the case of the Court of Appeal or 
Industrial Appeal Court and, in other cases, to the Associate of the 
relevant Judge. 

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8. Reasons for Decision 
PD 8.1 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
8. 
Where a party to litigation in the Court is aggrieved about delay in the 
delivery of a reserved decision, it is understood that there may be 
reluctance to raise the matter with the Master, or the Judge or Judges 
concerned. Consequently, if the legal representative of a party to 
proceedings in which there has been a reserved decision desires to 
complain about delay in its delivery, the complaint should be made by 
letter addressed to the Chief Justice. In every such case, the matter will 
be taken up with the Judge, Judges or Master concerned, but without 
disclosure of the identity of the party raising the matter.