Criminal

When a criminal appeal has been filed in the Staff of Government Division it will usually be listed for a directions hearing. The directions hearings will quite often only consist of one judge but there will then be two judges at the final hearing of the appeal.

The Staff of Government Division hears appeals from people convicted in the Court of General Gaol Delivery or Summary Court where the appellant has been given permission to appeal against their conviction or sentence. It may also hear an appeal from the Attorney General if they feel that a defendant was wrongly acquitted, or given an unduly lenient sentence.

The Staff of Government Division sits on six separate weeks in the year with a directions hearing generally being held approximately six weeks before the main hearing. On occassion however, there may be a need to arrange a separate hearing for an out of the ordinary appeal, e.g. due to the urgency of the appeal.