Consolidated practice directions

Objectives of criminal case management 
2. 
The overriding objective of criminal case management is that criminal 
cases must be dealt with justly. This overriding objective includes: 
(a) 
facilitating a fair trial according to law; 
(b) 
dealing with the prosecution and the defence fairly; 
(c) 
recognising the rights of an accused; 
(d) 
respecting the interests of witnesses, victims and jurors and 
keeping them informed of the progress of the case; 
(e) 
dealing 
with 
the 
case 
efficiently, 
economically 
and 
expeditiously; 
(f) 
ensuring that appropriate information is available to the court 
when bail and sentence are considered; and 
(g) 
dealing with the case in ways that take into account: 
(i) 
the gravity of the offence alleged; 
(ii) the complexity of the factual or legal matters in issue; 
(iii) the consequences for the accused and others affected; and 
(iv) the needs of other cases before the court and other Western 
Australian courts, and the limited judicial and other 
resources available within the criminal justice system.

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5. General Division - Criminal 
 
PD 5.8 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
3. 
Through criminal case management the court will aim to ensure that 
the time taken by and cost of any pre trial proceedings are 
proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the complexity of the 
matters in issue, and the extent to which that procedure will enhance 
the just disposition of the case. 
Matters suitable for case management 
4. 
Cases will be selected for case management by the judge in charge of 
the criminal list. 
5. 
Any party may apply for a case to be managed pursuant to this 
Practice Direction. An application for case management should be 
made by letter to the judge in charge of the criminal list and should 
include the reasons for the application and that the other parties in the 
case have been advised of the application and, whether they agree 
with the case being managed.