Practice Notes

Bail Proceedings (Centralised Bail Courts)

Amended 14 March 2025. Commences 26 October 2024.

• Practice Note: Bail Proceedings (Centralised Bail Courts) (PDF, 189.5 KB)

Case management of criminal proceedings in the Local Court

This Practice Note consolidates and replaces a number of practice notes in the criminal jurisdiction. Issued 24 April 2012 Commences 1 May 2012

Amended: 18 December 2020

• Practice Note: Criminal Crim 1 (PDF, 532.1 KB)
• Practice Note: Criminal Crim 1  (DOC, 485.0 KB)

Attachments:

• A – Notice of appearance (PDF, 79.7 KB)
• A – Notice of appearance  (DOC, 34.5 KB)
• B – Listing advice  (PDF, 149.7 KB)
• B – Listing advice 
• C – Application to vacate a hearing (PDF, 292.1 KB)
• C – Application to vacate a hearing (DOC, 96.0 KB)
• D – Application to Give Evidence Via AVL (PDF, 149.6 KB)
• D – Application to Give Evidence Via AVL
• E - Evidence of Domestic Violence Complainant in Criminal Proceedings (PDF, 173.7 KB)
• E - Evidence of Domestic Violence Complainant in Criminal Proceedings (DOC, 127.0 KB)

Domestic and Personal Violence Proceedings

Issued 24 April 2012. Commences 1 May 2012.

• Practice Note: Domestic Violence Matters – 2/2012 (PDF, 168.0 KB)
• Practice Note: Domestic Violence Matters – 2/2012 (DOC, 145.5 KB).

Attachments:

• Timetable for Statements (PDF, 18.1 KB)
• Timetable for Statements (DOC, 42.5 KB).

Specialist Family Violence List

Commences 25 September 2023. Amended 6 May 2024.

• Practice Note: Specialist Family Violence List (PDF, 252.0 KB)

Note: this Practice Note applies in the Bankstown Local Court, Blacktown Local Court, Downing Centre Local Court, Gunnedah Circuit (excluding Tamworth), Liverpool Local Court, Moree/Inverell Circuit, Newcastle Local Court, Katoomba Local Court, Windsor Local Court, and Sutherland Local Court.

Attachments:

• Annexure 1 – Prosecution Notice of Readiness (PDF, 119.8 KB)
• Annexure 1 – Prosecution Notice of Readiness (DOCX, 30.9 KB)
• Annexure 2 – Defence Notice of Readiness (PDF, 70.7 KB)
• Annexure 2 – Defence Notice of Readiness (DOCX, 28.3 KB)

Procedures to be adopted for committal hearings in the Local Court – prior

This Practice Note consolidates and replaces a number of practice notes in relation to committal proceedings following the repeal of the Criminal Case Conferencing Trial Act 2008. Issued 24 April 2012. Commences 1 May 2012, and only applies to offences commenced prior to the 30 April 2018.

Amended: 23 June 2017

• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 1 (PDF, 282.2 KB)
• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 1 (DOC, 162.0 KB).

Attachments:

• Summary of processes of criminal matters in the Local Court (PDF, 52.2 KB)
• Summary of processes of criminal matters in the Local Court (DOC, 40.5 KB).

Procedures to be adopted for committal hearings in the Local Court

This Practice Note relates to all relevant offences for committal proceedings commenced on or after 30 April 2018.

Issued: 14 March 2018

• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 2 (PDF, 396.2 KB)
• Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 2 (DOC, 238.0 KB).

Attachments:

• Progress of Committal Proceedings through the Local Court-Comm 2 (PDF, 151.6 KB)

This Practice Note will apply to committal proceedings relating to offences commenced on or after 9 January 2023

• Local Court Practice Note-Comm 3 (PDF, 377.2 KB)
• Local Court Practice Note-Comm 3 (DOC, 343.5 KB)
• Progress of Committal Proceedings through the Local Court - Attachment A (PDF, 87.7 KB)

For matters commenced before 9 January 2023, the previous Practice Note (Practice Note: Committal Proceedings Comm 2) applies. 

Civil Procedure

This version of the Practice Note was published on, and is to have effect from, 3 June 2024. Please Note: the below attachments relate only to the current Practice Note Civ 1.

• Practice Note Civ 1 (PDF, 458.6 KB)

Attachments to the current Practice Note:

• A – General Division Standard Directions (PDF, 72.8 KB)
• A - General Division Standard Directions (DOC, 95.5 KB)
• B – Civil Listing Advice (PDF, 70.1 KB)
• B - Civil Listing Advice
• C – Application for Witness to Give evidence via Audio Visual Link Facilities (PDF, 113.4 KB)
• C - Application for Witness to Give evidence via Audio Visual Link Facilities  (DOC, 98.0 KB)
• D – Pre-Trial Review Sheet (PDF, 51.6 KB)
• D - Pre-Trial Review Sheet (DOC, 78.0 KB)
• E – Small Claims Division Case Management (PDF, 65.5 KB)
• E - Small Claims Division Case Management (DOC, 87.0 KB)
• F - Application for Expert Witness to Give Evidence in person (PDF, 109.4 KB)
• Approved Lists – Online Court (PDF, 58.4 KB)

Online Court (civil claims)

Forms a part of the Consolidated Civil Practice Note Civ 1 (Above) from 15 March 2019. Please refer to Part I of the Practice Note.

Practice Note: Online Court 1 of 2015 – Please see Part I of PN Civ 1.

Form of address in court

Reissued pursuant to section 27 Local Court Act 2007. Issued 1 April 2004.

• Practice Note: General 1/2004 (PDF, 16.0 KB)
• Practice Note: General 1/2004. (DOC, 34.5 KB)

Identity theft prevention and anonymisation policy

Reissued pursuant to section 27 Local Court Act 2007. Commenced 7 April 2008.

• Practice Note: 1/2008 (PDF, 74.7 KB)
• Practice Note: 1/2008. (DOC, 115.0 KB)

Recording of court proceedings

Supersedes PN 2 of 2008. Issued 19 July 2013.

• Practice Note: 1/2013 (PDF, 25.2 KB)
• Practice Note: 1/2013 (DOC, 38.0 KB).

Attachments:

• Form of Application by Media Representative (PDF, 60.5 KB)
• Form of Application by Media Representative (DOC, 131.5 KB).

Coroner's Practice Note

• 1 of 2018 (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• 2 of 2018 (PDF, 588.3 KB).

Circulars

• Chief Magistrate's Office - Use of Devices in Court (PDF, 153.1 KB)

Miscellaneous

His Honour Judge Peter Johnstone, Chief Magistrate has endorsed the following Supreme Court Practice Note for use in the Local Court.

• Practice Note SC Gen 22 - Pronunciation of Names and Forms of Address (PDF, 2.7 MB)

For enquiries about Practice Notes, including revoked Practice Notes, please contact the Chief Magistrate's Office at cmo@justice.nsw.gov.au