Courts across New Zealand are set to benefit from faster and more streamlined proceedings following the nationwide rollout of an updated Judge-Alone Trial (JAT) protocol, welcomed today by Minister for Courts Nicole McKee.
The revised protocol, which officially takes effect from 1 August, is part of a broader government push to reduce court backlogs and improve access to timely justice.
“Improving court performance remains a key priority for this Government,” said Minister McKee. “We appreciate the judiciary and justice sector’s collaboration in refining this important protocol. Our goal is fair and timely justice for victims, defendants, witnesses, and whānau—helping communities heal and move on.”
First introduced in 2021 and trialled in select District Courts in 2022, the updated protocol was developed with extensive input from judges, defence lawyers, Crown prosecutors, and justice agencies. It will now apply to all judge-alone criminal trials held in New Zealand’s District Courts.
The revised protocol aims to reduce delays by:
- Introducing registrar-led teleconferences between prosecution and defence three weeks prior to trial to confirm readiness and address any unresolved issues.
- Allowing courts to start earlier to prioritise and review cases, ensuring better scheduling and use of judicial time.
The changes directly support the Chief District Court Judge’s “Timely Access to Justice” standard, which seeks to resolve 90 per cent of criminal cases within designated timeframes.
Judge-alone trials—where a judge rather than a jury determines guilt or innocence—play a vital role in New Zealand’s justice system. They are typically used for less serious criminal charges (Category 1 and 2 offences), or when defendants or the Crown choose to waive jury trial rights for Category 3 offences.
These trials are often faster and less expensive to conduct, requiring fewer court resources and significantly reducing pressure on jury pools. In recent years, their efficiency has become a focal point in efforts to clear backlogs that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice sector data has shown that judge-alone trials typically resolve more quickly than jury trials, with many completed in one day. According to Ministry of Justice figures, courts that adopted the pilot JAT protocol saw improvements in trial preparedness and reduced adjournments.
With the revised protocol now in effect, the Ministry of Justice will work alongside court staff and legal practitioners to ensure smooth implementation. The Courts and Tribunals Division will also monitor its impact on caseloads and trial timeliness throughout 2025.
“This is about delivering justice when people need it, not months or years later,” said Minister McKee. “By reducing unnecessary delays and ensuring trials are ready to proceed, we’re making a meaningful difference for communities across Aotearoa.”
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