AOS 2B Flashcards
The Judge role in civil proceedings
an impartial independent party that ensures court procedure is followed and parties are treated fairly. The judge must ensure that the principles of justice are upheld.
responsibilities of a judge in a civil dispute
- manage the trial
- decide on the admissibility of evidence
- attend to the jury (if there is one)
- determine liability and the remedy
- decide on costs
judge responsibility : manage the trial
significant powers of case management ensures the trial is conducted in a just timely and efficient manner. usually conducted in accordance to a set procedure, however the judge has the power to change that procedure.
responsibilities of a jury in a civil dispute
- be objective
- listen to and remember the evidence
- understand directions and summing up
- decide on liability and, in some cases, damages
responsibilities of a jury in a civil dispute
- be objective
- listen to and remember age evidence
- understand directions and summing up
- decide on liability and, in some cases, damages
responsibilities of the parties in a civil dispute
- make decisions about the conduct of the case
- discover relevant documents
- comply with over arching obligations
responsibilities of legal practitioners in a civil dispute
- comply with their duty to the court
- make an opening and closing address
- present the case to a judge or jury
- comply with overarching obligations
judicial powers of case management
- power to order mediation
- power to give directions, before and during the trial
- power to order mediation
Civil Procedure Act 2010 (VIC) section 66.
a court may make an order referring to civil proceedings or part of a civil proceeding to appropriate dispute resolution.
Rule 50.07 of the Supreme Court rules states that at any stage of proceedings the Supreme Court can order that the proceedings be referred to a mediator
- power to give directions, before the trial
- the conduct of proceedings
- timetables and timelines for steps undertaken
- participation in dispute resolution methods
- expert evidence, including limiting
- the allowance for parties to amend a pleading
- discovery, including relieving a party from the obligation to provide discovery or limiting.
- power to give directions, during the trial
- which evidence is given/ who will go first
- limiting the time to be taken to trial
- limiting examination of witnesses
- limiting the number of witnesses
- limiting the duration of party submissions
- limiting the number if documents
- evidence, whether it should be given orally or in writing
- decide if a particular party should bare the cost
courts as dispute resolution bodies - appropriateness
firstly whether it falls into the jurisdiction or if their are better ways to resolve the dispute
courts as dispute resolution bodies - jurisdiction
the power that courts have to hear cases
- the county and Supreme Court can hear cases from $100 000+
- the magistrates court can hear cases up to $100 000
- VCAT has exclusive jurisdiction over cases relating to ; domestic building, retail tenancies, residential tenancies, and planning disputes.
judicial determination
method used to resolve the dispute by the courts
mediation
cooperative method of resolving a dispute
- two disputing parties with possible representatives
- third party mediator - whose role is to facilitate conversation
- resolution is made by the parties voluntarily
- if a settlement is entered in to it is enforceable
- used extensively in Victorian courts and VCAT
conciliation
- two disputing parties with possible representatives
- third party conciliator - whose role is to facilitate conversation and offer suggestions and solutions
- resolution is made by the parties voluntarily - may be on the advice of the conciliator.
- if a settlement is entered in to it is enforceable
- used by CAV in Victorian courts and VCAT