Three of the five interim judges were reappointed for two-year terms on Tuesday. 

Attorney-General Elise Archer made the announcement after consultations with Chief Justice Alan Blow and legal stakeholders, but details about the advice remain under lock and key. 

“Discussions between the Chief Justice and Attorney-General are confidential,” a government spokesperson said. 

The number of criminal cases awaiting finalisation in the Supreme Court has grown by more than 50 per cent since 2014. 

In the court’s 2016-17 annual report, Chief Justice Blow identified the Supreme Court’s significant case backlog, and an increase in bail appeals and applications as the court’s two major challenges. 

In the following year’s annual report he said both problems had become significantly worse. 

Five part-time acting judges were appointed in February 2017 in a bid to tackle the growing backlog. 

One of those judges conducted directions hearings in about 100 of the oldest criminal cases in Launceston and Hobart in November 2017.

Chief Justice Blow said the court could have made more use of the acting judges and disposed of more criminal trials if the Director of Public Prosecutions and legal aid had greater resources and had therefore been able to bring more matters to trial. 

The Law Society of Tasmania has mirrored the Chief Justice’s calls for more resourcing

The state government is working on a number of measures to improve the justice system including the Magistrates Court Bill, reforming bail laws and exploring additional legislative reforms. 

Consultations between the government and the Chief Justice about resourcing needs for the court were ongoing, the spokesperson said. 

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