The state government will have “more to say” about the Supreme Court case backlog in the upcoming budget, acting Attorney-General Matthew Groom says.
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The Tasmanian Supreme Court has brought ageing judges out of retirement to serve as acting justices, as the court system deals with a backlog of criminal cases.
Law Society of Tasmania president Rohan Foon said one acting justice, David Porter, had initially retired for health reasons.
Mr Foon said the court’s workload justified the appointment of a seventh permanent judge.
He said the government’s appointment of acting judges was “like appointing extra umpires, expecting there to be extra games of football”.
The Supreme Court backlog meant complainants were waiting longer for outcomes, and defendants were suffering increased stress as the legal process was drawn out, the Law Society said.
Acting Attorney-General Matthew Groom noted that the government had enacted legislation to allow for the appointment of acting judges – a means of addressing the case backlog.
“The government will have more to say in the budget about further initiatives to support this work,” Mr Groom said.
“The Hodgman Liberal government is committed to ensuring that all Tasmanians have access to an efficient and effective criminal and civil justice system.”
Listen to our interview with Matthew Groom on Chamber Sessions – Fairfax Tasmania’s state politics podcast.