The lead-up to the trial: Pre-trial processes
Case reviews
Usually case reviews will be dealt with by the court registrar, rather than a judge.
For all charges where you could be sent to prison for the offence (Category 2 and above), the court will carry out a “case review” of the charge before the case goes to a trial, to look at whether the charge can be resolved without the need for a trial. Category 1 cases don’t have a case review unless a judge orders one. This process is called “case monitoring” if there’s a guilty plea.
For explanations of each category, see: “Four offence categories”.
Note: Category 1 cases can also be dealt with without the defendant being present. So it’s important that you go to court if you want to be heard in response to the charge.
Date for the case review
Criminal Procedure Rules 2012, rule 4.2
For charges that are to be heard by a judge alone, without a jury, the case review will take place 30 working days (6 weeks) after you plead not guilty.
For Category 3 offences (offences carrying a prison term of two years or more), you have the right to choose a jury trial. If you do so, the case review takes place 45 working days (9 weeks) after the not guilty plea.
What is a Case Management Memorandum?
Criminal Procedure Act 2011, s 55(2); Criminal Procedure Rules 2012, rule 4.6
Before the case review, the defendant and the prosecutor must jointly file a Case Management Memorandum with the court. This document tells the court all the details that relate to the case and what the issues will be at the trial.
The Case Management Memorandum must be filed at least five working days (1 week) before the case review date.
There are certain issues that the defence and prosecution should discuss before filing the Memorandum, so that these can be covered in the Memorandum if necessary.
Criminal Procedure Act 2011, ss 55(1), 56
Some of the matters to be considered include:
- whether you would like the judge to tell you what sentence you would receive if you pleaded guilty (a sentence indication)
- whether you would consider pleading guilty to a less serious or different charge
- whether the parties agree on any of the evidence that’s to be given in court, which might mean that a witness does not have to come to court or that the trial will be shorter
- whether you object to any of the evidence the prosecutor wants to present at the trial
- whether the parties agree on how long the trial will take, and on a date for the trial.
Note: The issues to be discussed and dealt with in a Case Management Memorandum are set out on the form for the Memorandum, which can be downloaded from the Ministry of Justice website, www.justice.govt.nz.
What happens at a case review?
A case review may or may not involve a hearing before a judge. The court registrar decides based on what’s laid out in the Case Management Memorandum whether a hearing before a judge is necessary. Often it won’t be necessary.
Case review by Registrar
The registrar usually deals with the case review without a hearing, just by reading the paperwork (called making a decision “on the papers”). But if there is something in the Memorandum that requires a judge’s attention – for example, if you ask for an indication as to what sentence you might get if you plead guilty – there will be a hearing.
If the registrar decides a case review hearing before a judge isn’t necessary, you must appear in front of the registrar on the case review date. The registrar will put off (“adjourn”) the case until the trial date if it’s a judge-alone trial or until the jury trial “callover” if it’s a jury trial. “Callover” is a pre-trial appearance before a judge to deal with process matters and make sure the case is ready to go to trial.
Case Review before a judge
If there is a case review hearing before a judge, the judge will have read the Case Management Memorandum and may assess the strengths and weaknesses of the case and whether there is room for negotiation between you and the prosecutor. For example:
- the prosecutor may agree that the charges are too serious for what you actually did
- you may agree that you have no defence (“no answer”) to the prosecutor’s evidence and plead guilty
- taking into account what you have said, the prosecutor may decide the summary of facts should be changed to more accurately reflect what happened
- the judge may give an indication of what sentence would be imposed if you were to change your plea to guilty.
What happens if I decide to plead guilty?
If you plead guilty at an early stage, the judge is required to give you a reduction in sentence. The closer in time you get to trial, the smaller that reduction will be. The case review will usually be the last opportunity for you to get a reduction in sentence for a plea of guilty, and the judge is likely to tell you this.
If, based on the case review, you decide to change your plea to guilty, the judge may either sentence you at the case review or set a future date for sentencing (see “Sentencing”).
Can a complainant attend a case review hearing?
Yes. The person who made the complaint against you (“the complainant”) can attend the case review hearing, if one is held, and will be invited to speak to the court if they wish. More commonly, where appropriate, a victim impact statement will be prepared for the court and the judge will be given this in advance of the hearing (see: “Victim Impact Statements”).
