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The Downing Centre is closed due to flooding from a burst water main. People with matters listed in that location are advised to contact 1300 679 272 for advice on the location of their matter and if it has been adjourned (8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday).
Read the latest update - external site .
Information about the ban on private electronic monitoring for bail
From 11 June 2025, courts in NSW can no longer grant bail with a condition that a person arranges and pays for their own electronic monitoring device. If you have a private electronic monitoring bail condition, it continues to apply until it is removed by a court. The condition must be removed by 12 September 2025. For more information, see: https://www.nsw.gov.au/legal-and-justice/going-to-court-as-a-defendant/bail#toc-information-about-the-ban-on-private-electronic-monitoring-for-bail - external site
From 1 December 2020
14 April 2014: Email procedures (PDF, 21.0 KB) are to be followed when submitting consent orders or for general email correspondence for matters listed before the District Court of NSW including the List Judge and the Judicial Registrar.
8 March 2012: An increasing number of settlement consent documents are being rejected by the Court. This results in delay, further cost and sometimes unnecessary court appearances. A checklist has been prepared to clarify the process of applying for a consent judgment.
March 30 2012: Although coal mining matters comprise part of the residual jurisdiction of the District Court, sections 56 to 60 (Overriding purpose) of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 - external site apply.
All practitioners have an important role in fostering these aims.
This includes cooperating with the opposing lawyers, resolving issues by communication with a view to avoiding unnecessary applications, not incurring unnecessary or disproportionate costs and not wasting court time to determine matters which the parties should be able to resolve between themselves.
Specialist jurisdictions, such as coal mining, in which a relatively small number of practitioners regularly appear, ought by their nature provide an ideal atmosphere in which to foster the aims of the legislation and thereby to limit costs.
Practitioners are reminded that the efficiency of the coal mining list is to a large extent dependent on good communication, courtesy and a high level of cooperation between the members of the profession.
Judge Truss
NSW District Court
March 30 2012
December 16 2011: Changes in registry filing practices will commence on 1 January 2012. Filing parties only need to provide the civil registry with the original document and one copy of the document (this includes cases with multiple parties).
The registry will retain the original document on the court file. The registry will add the case number and listing date (if applicable) to the copy then seal only the first page of the copy. The sealed copy will then be returned to the filing party. The filing party is then responsible for making any additional copies that are required for service.
The original document filed must bear original signatures, as required by the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 - external site and the single copy must be a true photocopy of that original document. (That is, the copy of the original document must be made after it has been signed).
These new practices apply to all originating processes and secondary documents filed at the registry in person or by post.
These changes are consistent with amendments to the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 - external site made on 9 September 2011. The purpose of the UCPR amendment was to:
These new practices are consistent with practices of the Supreme Court.
7 December 2011: The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 - external site commences on 1 January 2012.
Section 229B(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 - external site provides that, except as provided by this section, proceedings for an offence against the Act or the regulations are to dealt with summarily before the Local Court or before the District Court in its summary jurisdiction.
Attention is drawn to the following matters that are relevant to summary prosecutions before the District Court:
The above filing practice does not apply to subpoenas. There is no change to the requirement of filing one subpoena for sealing as per Civil Practice Note 8. There is no requirement for the registry to retain a copy of the subpoena.
17 May 2011: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 - external site 36.1A (1) provides that a court may give judgment, or order that judgment be entered, in terms of an agreement between parties. Unless there is a particular reason that a verdict is required that is clearly stated in the agreement, parties are requested not to seek a 'verdict' but rather a 'judgment' when preparing terms of agreement (eg a consent judgment) under rule 36.1A
Judgment may be delayed if an order for a 'verdict' is sought because the registry must refer such matters to the judicial registrar or a judge to consider, as assistant registrars do not have authority to order a verdict.
Practitioners are also reminded that barristers do not have the authority to sign documents on behalf of a party (see UCPR 4.4). If counsel sign terms of agreement the terms may not be accepted by the court.
December 8 2011: Parties before the Sydney District Court often do not comply with the provisions of Civil Practice Note 1 in relation to both the preparation for hearing and the use of expert reports. This notice draws particular attention to the parts of Civil Practice Note 1 that will be strictly applied at future pre-trial hearings and status conferences:
1.2 Parties should expect to be allocated a trial date within 12 months of the commencement of proceedings and plan to meet this time standard.
2.1 Parties must not commence proceedings until they are ready to comply with the requirements of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 - external site (UCPR) and the court's practice notes for preparation and trial. This means that, except in special circumstances, the plaintiff's preparation for trial must be well advanced before filing the statement of claim.
5.7 The court will give directions for the service of expert reports under rule 31.19 UCPR at the pre-trial conference. The parties must be able to tell the court the precise nature of any expert evidence to be relied on and the names of all experts so that appropriate directions can be made. All reports must be served at least 28 days before the status conference.
8.2 Cases in the General List will be required to take a hearing date at the status conference even though there are still some matters to be completed before the hearing. Appropriate orders will be made.
Craig Smith
Judicial Registrar
NSW District Court
8 December 2011
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