Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001 (Vic)

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Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment)

Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Rule Page
1. Object 1
2. Authorising provisions 1
3. Commencement 1
4. Principal Rules 1
5. New Rule 1.05 inserted 1
1.05 Extension and abridgement 2
6. Amendment to Rule 2.01 2
7. Amendment to Rule 2.02 2
8. Amendment to Rule 2.03 2
9. Amendment to Rule 3.01 2
10. Substitution of Order 4 2
ORDER 4 3
FILING HEARINGS AND COMMITTAL MENTION
HEARINGS 3
4.01 Charge to be filed with the registrar 3
4.02 Registrar to fix date for filing hearing 3
4.03 Further date for filing hearing. 3
4.04 Orders and directions at filing hearing 3
4.05 Notice of committal mention hearing 4
4.06 Application to Court to fix a longer period for the holding
of a committal mention hearing 4
11. Revocation of Rule 5.03 4
12. Substitution of Rules 5.04 and 5.05 5
5.04 Filing of application 5
5.05 Service of application 5
13. Substitution of Rule 6.01 5
6.01 Fixing of a special mention hearing 5
14. Revocation of Rules 6.02 and 6.03 5
15. Substitution of Rule 6.05 5
6.05 Application to be excused from attending special mention
hearing 5
16. Substitution of Rule 9.01 6

i

Rule Page

9.01 Notice by informant in response to application for leave to

cross-examine a witness 6
17. Revocation of Rule 9.02 6
18. Time for objection by informant to production of certain material 6
19. Application for leave to cross-examine a witness after expiry of
period for giving notice 6
20. Revocation of Rule 9.05 6
21. Revocation of Order 10 6
22. Substitution of Order 11 7
ORDER 11 7
COMPULSORY EXAMINATION PROCEDURE 7
11.01 Form of application 7
11.02 Form of notice of order 7
11.03 Service of notice of order 7
11.04 Prescribed information 8
23. New Order 11A inserted 8
ORDER 11A 8
EVIDENCE TAKEN AFTER ACCUSED PERSON
DIRECTED TO BE TRIED 8
11A.01 Form of notice of application 8
11A.02 Response to notice of application 8
24. New Rules 12.04 and 12.05 inserted 9
12.04 Witnessing of statements 9
12.05 Statements prepared in another jurisdiction 9
25. Amendments to Form 4A 9
26. Amendments to Form 4B 9
27. Substitution of Form 5A 10
28. Revocation of Forms 6A, 6B and 6C 11
29. Amendments to Form 7A 11
30. Amendments to Form 8A 11
31. Substitution of Form 9A 12
32. Revocation of Form 9B 13
33. Amendment to Form 11A 13
34. Substituted Forms 11B and 11C and new Forms 11AA and
11AB inserted 14
35. Amendment to Form 12A 18

═══════════════

ENDNOTES 20

ii

STATUTORY RULES 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001

Magistrates' Court Act 1989

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment)

Rules 2001

The Chief Magistrate together with 2 Deputy Chief

Magistrates jointly make the following Rules:

1. Object

The object of these Rules is to make miscellaneous amendments to the Principal Rules.

2. Authorising provisions

These Rules are made under section 142 of the enabling powers.

3. Commencement

These Rules come into operation on 1 July 2001.

4. Principal Rules

In these Rules, the Magistrates' Court
(Committals) Rules 19991 are called the Principal

Rules.

5. New Rule 1.05 inserted

After Rule 1.04 of the Principal Rules insert—

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 6 S.R. No. 58/2001

"1.05 Extension and abridgement

(1) Except as the Act otherwise provides, the

Court may extend or abridge any time fixed by or under these Rules.

(2) The Court may extend time under sub-rule (1) before or after the time expires whether or not an application for the extension is

made before the time expires.".

6. Amendment to Rule 2.01

In Rule 2.01 of the Principal Rules after "Director of Public Prosecutions" insert "or other person or body authorised at law to prosecute in the

committal proceeding".

7. Amendment to Rule 2.02

In Rule 2.02 of the Principal Rules after "Director of Public Prosecutions" insert "or other person or body authorised at law to prosecute in the

committal proceeding".

8. Amendment to Rule 2.03

In Rule 2.03 of the Principal Rules after "Director of Public Prosecutions" insert "or other person or body authorised at law to prosecute in the

committal proceeding".

9. Amendment to Rule 3.01

In Rule 3.01(c) of the Principal Rules after "Director of Public Prosecutions" insert "or other person or body authorised at law to prosecute in the committal proceeding".

10. Substitution of Order 4

For Order 4 of the Principal Rules substitute—

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 10

"ORDER 4

FILING HEARINGS AND COMMITTAL

MENTION HEARINGS

4.01 Charge to be filed with the registrar

A charge in a committal proceeding must be filed with the registrar as soon as practicable after the charge is laid.

4.02 Registrar to fix date for filing hearing

On the filing of the charge, the registrar must fix a date for a filing hearing in the proceeding and the date must be—

(a) if a defendant has been arrested and is either remanded in custody or granted bail in the proceeding—a day which is within 7 days after the filing of the

charge; or

(b)

if a summons to answer to a charge is issued—a day which is within 4 weeks after the issue of the summons.

4.03 Further date for filing hearing.

If it appears to the Court at a filing hearing that a summons to which section 34(1)(a)(i) of the Act applies has not been served in

accordance with that section, the Court may
fix a further date for the filing hearing.

4.04 Orders and directions at filing hearing If the defendant appears personally or is represented by a legal practitioner at a filing

hearing, whether or not any requirement of section 34(1) of the Act has been complied with, the Court may—

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 11 S.R. No. 58/2001

(a)

subject to clause 4(2) of Schedule 5 to the Act, fix a committal mention date on a day which is within 12 weeks after

the commencement of the proceeding
or on such other day as the Court deems
appropriate;

(b)

fix a longer or shorter period for the holding of a committal mention hearing in accordance with clause 4(3) of Schedule 5 to the Act;

(c)

subject to clause 7(1) of Schedule 5 to the Act, fix a time for service of a hand- up brief;

(d)

give such directions as it considers are necessary, in the interests of justice.

4.05 Notice of committal mention hearing

On the conclusion of the filing hearing, the registrar must hand to the defendant a notice in Form 4A.

4.06 Application to Court to fix a longer period

for the holding of a committal mention
hearing

If the Court has fixed a committal mention date, an application under clause 4(3) of Schedule 5 to the Act for the Court to fix a longer period for the holding of a committal mention hearing than that set out in clause 4(2) of the Schedule must be in Form 4B.".

11. Revocation of Rule 5.03

Rule 5.03 of the Principal Rules is revoked.

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 12

12. Substitution of Rules 5.04 and 5.05

For Rules 5.04 and 5.05 of the Principal Rules substitute—

"5.04 Filing of application

Unless otherwise provided by these Rules, an application is made by filing the application with the registrar.

5.05 Service of application

The applicant must serve a copy of an application on every person to whom notice of the application is to be given a reasonable time before the hearing of the application.".

13. Substitution of Rule 6.01

For Rule 6.01 of the Principal Rules substitute—

"6.01 Fixing of a special mention hearing

(1) A party may apply to the Court for a special mention hearing.

(2) An application must set out the purpose of

the application for the special mention
hearing and must be in Form 5A.

(3) The Court may of its own motion conduct a special mention hearing.".

14. Revocation of Rules 6.02 and 6.03

Rules 6.02 and 6.03 of the Principal Rules are revoked.

15. Substitution of Rule 6.05

For Rule 6.05 of the Principal Rules substitute—

"6.05 Application to be excused from attending special mention hearing

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 16 S.R. No. 58/2001

(1) An application to the Court under clause 3(4)

of Schedule 5 to the Act must be made
before the special mention date.

(2) The application may be made orally or in

writing.

(3) An application made orally must be

determined by the Court.".

16. Substitution of Rule 9.01

For Rule 9.01 of the Principal Rules substitute—

"9.01 Notice by informant in response to

application for leave to cross-examine a

witness

For the purposes of clause 12(2A) of
Schedule 5 to the Act, notice in writing to
the defendant and the registrar must be in

Form 9A.".

17. Revocation of Rule 9.02

Rule 9.02 of the Principal Rules is revoked.

18.  Time for objection by informant to production of certain material

At the end of Rule 9.03 insert—

"(2) An objection must be made no later than

7 days before the committal mention date.".

19.  Application for leave to cross-examine a witness after expiry of period for giving notice

In Rule 9.04 of the Principal Rules for "in

Form 9B" substitute "in Form 5A".

20. Revocation of Rule 9.05

Rule 9.05 of the Principal Rules is revoked.

21. Revocation of Order 10

Order 10 of the Principal Rules is revoked.

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 21

22. Substitution of Order 11

For Order 11 to the Principal Rules substitute—

"ORDER 11

COMPULSORY EXAMINATION

PROCEDURE

11.01 Form of application

An application under section 56A(1) of the Act for a person to attend before the Court for the purpose of being examined by or on behalf of the informant or producing a

document or thing or both must be in

Form 11A.

11.02 Form of notice of order

For the purposes of section 56A(3) of the Act, notice of an order requiring a person to attend before the Court under section 56A(1) of the Act is in the prescribed form if—

(a)

it is in Form 11B if it is to be served on the defendant; or

(b)

it is in Form 11C if it is to be served on the person to whom the order relates.

11.03 Service of notice of order

For the purposes of section 56A(3) of the
Act, notice of an order made under section

56A(1) of the Act must be—

(a)

served in accordance with Rule 3.01(a), if it is to be served on the defendant; or

(b)

served personally, if it is to be served on the person to whom the order relates—

unless the Court otherwise orders.

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 23 S.R. No. 58/2001

11.04 Prescribed information

For the purposes of section 56A(1B)(e) of the Act, the following other information is prescribed—

(a)

whether the defendant has been made aware of the application;

(b)

the issues that are proposed to be raised with the person sought to be examined;

(c)

any documents or things the person is to produce.".

23. New Order 11A inserted

After Rule 11.04 of the Principal Rules insert—

"ORDER 11A

EVIDENCE TAKEN AFTER ACCUSED PERSON DIRECTED TO BE TRIED

11A.01 Form of notice of application

Notice of an application for an order that
the evidence of a person be taken at a time
and place fixed by the Court under clause
24A of Schedule 5 to the Act must be in

Form 11AA.

11A.02 Response to notice of application

A party who receives a notice referred to in Rule 11A.01 must, no later than 7 days before the hearing of the application or such lesser period before then as is agreed to by the other party, give notice in Form 11AB to the other party and the registrar stating—

(a)

whether the party consents to or opposes an order for the evidence of a witness being taken; and

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 24

(b)

if the party opposes the order, the reasons for the opposition.".

24. New Rules 12.04 and 12.05 inserted

After Rule 12.03 of the Principal Rules insert—

"12.04 Witnessing of statements

For the purposes of clause 8(1)(b)(vii) of
Schedule 5 to the Principal Act the following
persons or class of persons are prescribed—
an officer at Australian Public Service level
5 or higher who is an investigator in the
Department of Immigration and

Multicultural Affairs of the Commonwealth.

12.05 Statements prepared in another jurisdiction

For the purposes of clause 8(1)(c) of Schedule 5 to the Act, a statement made in another jurisdiction of Australia is in the prescribed form and is attested to in the prescribed manner if it has been made and attested to in accordance with the law for making and attesting statements in committal proceedings in that other jurisdiction.".

25. Amendments to Form 4A

In Form 4A to the Principal Rules—

(a) for "Rule 4.02" substitute "Rule 4.05";

(b)

omit "you are able to show exceptional circumstances and that";

(c) after "want to" insert "apply to".

26. Amendments to Form 4B

In Form 4B to the Principal Rules—

(a) for "Rule 4.04" substitute "Rule 4.06";

(b)

for "[or shorter] period for the holding of a committal mention hearing" substitute

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 26 S.R. No. 58/2001

"period for the holding of a committal
mention hearing than that set out in clause

4(2) of Schedule 5 to the Act.".

27. Substitution of Form 5A

For Form 5A to the Principal Rules substitute—

"FORM 5A

Rules 5.02, 6.01 and 9.04

[heading as in Form 2A]

APPLICATION

TO: [identify party (if any) to whom notice of application is to be given]

THE APPLICANT [insert name] applies—

*1. for an order that a special mention hearing takes place

[set out purpose of special mention hearing, as required by
Rule 6.01].

*2. for leave to cross-examine [insert name of witness], after the expiry of the period for giving notice of cross- examination under clause 12(1) of Schedule 5 to the

Magistrates' Court Act 1989. *3. for the following orders— [set out details of order(s) sought. Also set out the grounds
for the application]

The Committal Mention Date in this committal proceeding is: [date].

The application will be heard at the Magistrates' Court at
[venue] on [date] at a.m. [or p.m.] or so soon

afterwards as the business of the Court allows.

Signature of Applicant or Applicant's legal practitioner:

Dated:

[registrar]

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 28

This application was filed by:

*delete if inapplicable".

28. Revocation of Forms 6A, 6B and 6C

Forms 6A, 6B and 6C to the Principal Rules are revoked.

29. Amendments to Form 7A

In Form 7A to the Principal Rules—

(a)

for "admissible statement(s)" substitute admitted in evidence";

(b)

for "admissible statement" substitute in evidence";

(c)

for "admissible documents" substitute admitted in evidence".

30. Amendments to Form 8A

In Form 8A to the Principal Rules—

(a)

after "Public Prosecutions" insert "or the person or body authorised at law to prosecute in the committal proceeding";

(b) for—
"*1. intends to seek leave to cross-examine [name
of person(s)] at the committal proceeding
[identify scope and purpose of the proposed
questioning and how it has substantial
relevance to the facts in issue]."

substitute—

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 31 S.R. No. 58/2001
"*1. intends to seek leave to cross-examine [name
of person(s)] at the committal proceeding.

An issue to which the proposed questioning relates and a reason as to why the evidence is relevant to the issue are set out as follows—

[insert details]";

(c)

at the end of the Form, omit the words and expressions commencing with "NOTE" and ending "full age or capacity".".

31. Substitution of Form 9A

For Form 9A to the Principal Rules substitute—

"FORM 9A

Rules 9.01 and 9.03

[heading as in Form 2A]

NOTICE BY INFORMANT

*OF CONSENT TO AN APPLICATION BY THE DEFENDANT TO CROSS-EXAMINE A WITNESS

*OF OPPOSITION TO AN APPLICATION BY THE DEFENDANT TO CROSS-EXAMINE A

WITNESS

*OF OBJECTION TO THE PRODUCTION OF AN

ITEM LISTED IN HAND-UP BRIEF

TO: the defendant

AND TO: the registrar

(clauses 12(2A) and 12(4)(a) of Schedule 5 to the

Magistrates' Court Act 1989)

*1. TAKE NOTICE that the informant consents to leave
being granted to the defendant to cross-examine the
person[s] named in the Notice of the Defendant dated
[insert date of notice] in Response to Hand-Up Brief.

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 31

[or]

*1(a) TAKE NOTICE that the informant opposes leave being granted to the defendant to cross-examine the following person[s]

[list persons]

named in the Notice of the Defendant dated [insert

date of notice] in Response to Hand-Up Brief

(b) THE REASONS for the informant opposing leave being granted to cross-examine the persons listed in paragraph (a) are—

[set out reasons]

[or]

*2(a) TAKE NOTICE that the informant objects to the

production of the following item(s) listed in the hand-
up brief required by the defendant to be produced—

[list items].

(b) THE REASONS for the informant objecting to production of the item(s) are—

[set out reasons]

Dated—

Signature—

*of Informant

*for or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions

*for or on behalf of other person or body authorised at law

to prosecute in the committal proceeding

* Delete if not applicable".

32. Revocation of Form 9B

Form 9B to the Principal Rules is revoked.

33. Amendment to Form 11A

In Form 11A to the Principal Rule, for "Rule
11.02" substitute "Rule 11.01".

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001
S.R. No. 58/2001

34.  Substituted Forms 11B and 11C and new Forms 11AA and 11AB inserted

For Form 11B to the Principal Rules substitute—

"FORM 11B

Rule 11.02(a)

[heading as in Form 2A]

NOTICE OF ORDER

(to be served on the defendant)

TO: [name of defendant]

An order requiring that [name of person to whom order relates] attend before the Court in this committal proceeding has been made by the Court on the application of the informant under section 56A(1) of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989.

THE COURT HAS ORDERED that [name of person to whom order relates] attend before the Court for the purpose of—

* being examined by or on behalf of the informant;

* producing a document or thing, namely—

[describe the document or thing];

* being examined by or on behalf of the informant and
producing a document or thing or both [describe the

document or thing];

(a) at [venue of Court] Magistrates' Court;

(b)

at 10.00 a.m. [or as the case requires] on [date] and until [name of person to whom order relates] is excused from further attending.

Dated—

Signature of informant—

NOTES TO THE DEFENDANT

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 34

(1) Any question concerning this Notice should be addressed not to the Court but to the informant.

(2) Section 56A(3) of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989

provides that notice of an order under section 56A(1) of the
Act must be served on you in accordance with the Rules.

(3) You may attend Court on the above date and you may be
legally represented.

(4) You may not cross-examine a witness attending the Court under an order made under section 56A(1) of the Act.

(5)

If you attend Court and, if the Court determines there are exceptional circumstances, you may address the Court on the proceeding personally or through a legal practitioner representing you.

(6) You may wish to seek legal advice in which case you should
contact your legal representative or Victoria Legal Aid
immediately.
*delete if inapplicable

_______________

FORM 11C

Rule 11.02(b)

[heading as in Form 2A]

NOTICE OF ORDER

(to be served on person to whom order relates) TO: [name of person to whom order relates]

An order requiring that [name of person to whom order relates] attend before the Court in this committal proceeding has been made by the Court on the application of the informant under section 56A(1) of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989.

THE COURT HAS ORDERED that [name of person to whom order relates] attend before the Court for the purpose of—

* being examined by or on behalf of the informant;

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 34 S.R. No. 58/2001

* producing a document or thing, namely—

[describe the document or thing];

* being examined by or on behalf of the informant and
producing a document or thing or both [describe the

document or thing];

(a) at [venue of Court] Magistrates' Court;

(b)

at 10.00 a.m. [or as the case requires] on [date] and until [name of person to whom order relates] is excused from further attending.

Dated—

Signature of informant—

NOTES TO PERSON TO WHOM ORDER RELATES

(1) If you do not comply with the order you may be arrested.

(2) Any question concerning this Notice should be addressed not to the Court but to the informant.

(3) You have the right to be legally represented at the proposed
examination.
(4) You may wish to seek legal advice in which case you should
contact your legal representative or Victoria Legal Aid
immediately.
*delete if inapplicable

_______________

FORM 11AA

Rule 11A.01

[heading as in Form 2A]

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ORDER THAT

THE EVIDENCE OF A PERSON BE TAKEN

(clause 24A of Schedule 5 to the Magistrates' Court

Act 1989)

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001 r. 34

TO: *the Director of Public Prosecutions/*the defendant

AND TO: the registrar

THE *defendant/*Director of Public Prosecutions—

will apply to the Court for an order that the evidence of
[name of person(s)] be taken at a time and place to be fixed
by the Court.

An issue to which the proposed questioning relates and a reason as to why the evidence is relevant to the issue are set out as follows—

[insert details]

The defendant has been committed for trial at [name of court] at [place] on [trial date].

The application will be heard at the Magistrates' Court at
[venue] on [date] at a.m. [or p.m.] or so soon

afterwards as the business of the Court allows.

Dated—
Signature—
*of defendant/*defendant's legal practitioner

*for or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions

Dated:

[registrar]

This Notice of application was filed by: [insert name].

*delete if inapplicable.

_______________

FORM 11AB

Rule 11A.02

[heading as in Form 2A]

RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR

ORDER THAT THE EVIDENCE OF A PERSON

BE TAKEN

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

r. 34 S.R. No. 58/2001

(clause 24A of Schedule 5 to the Magistrates' Court

Act 1989)

TO: *the Director of Public Prosecutions/*the defendant

AND TO: the registrar

THE *defendant/*Director of Public Prosecutions—

*CONSENTS to an order that the evidence of [name of
person(s)] be taken at a time and place to be fixed by the

Court.

or

*OPPOSES an order for the evidence of [name of person(s)]
be taken at a time and place to be fixed by the Court for the

following reasons—

[set out reasons]

[signature]

Signature *for or on behalf of the Director of Public practitioner:

Dated:

[registrar]

This Response to Notice of application was filed by: [insert name].

*delete if inapplicable".

35. Amendment to Form 12A

In Form 12A to the Principal Rules for "the sentencing judge may reduce your sentence" substitute "today or at any time before or during your trial, the sentencing judge may take into account whether you pleaded guilty and the stage in the proceedings at which you pleaded guilty or indicated an intention to plead guilty".

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

S.R. No. 58/2001

Dated: 20 June 2001

IAN LESLIE GRAY,

Chief Magistrate

DANIEL JOHN MULING,

Deputy Chief Magistrate

JELENA POPOVIC,

Deputy Chief Magistrate

═══════════════

Magistrates' Court (Committals) (Amendment) Rules 2001

Endnotes S. R. No. 58/2001
ENDNOTES

1 Rule 4: S.R. No. 97/1999 as amended by S.R. No. 150/1999.

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