High Court - cases and volumes - for the 12 months ending 31 December 2020

Case type New business Disposals Total active
General proceedings 1056 1189 1994
Originating applications                                 821 816 526
Judicial review 296 268 147
Insolvency 1029 1169 320
Appeals 238 238 140
Jury trial 149 113 170
Criminal appeal 1362 1361 180


Definitions

New business

HC appeals - civil and criminal

New business includes all appeals filed in the High Court.

HC civil

New business includes all general proceedings, originating applications and judicial reviews filed in the High Court.

HC criminal trials

New business includes cases arriving in High Court for trial, cases where a retrial has been directed, split cases and cases transferred into the High Court under s 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 and s 86D of the Sentencing Act 2002 (3rd strike cases - in effect at the time).

Disposals at delivery of final judgment, completion of sentencing or earlier final outcome

HC appeals - civil & criminal

Disposals are counted at the delivery of the final judgment, or at an earlier final outcome.

HC civil

Disposals are counted at the delivery of the final judgment, or at an earlier final outcome. They are limited to general proceedings, originating applications and judicial reviews.

HC criminal trials

Disposals are counted at the completion of sentencing, or at an earlier final outcome. Cases are disposed when sentencing or final outcomes are established on all charges, or when all active charges are joined into another case.
Disposals are recorded in the categories of: Convicted and Sentenced, Found Not Guilty, Convicted and Discharged, Discharged Section 147, Not Proceeded With, Joined and Other Outcome.

Total active cases - all cases awaiting substantive hearing, final judgment, verdict/plea, awaiting sentencing or final outcome

HC appeals - civil and criminal

Active appeals are those cases that are proceeding to or awaiting a substantive appeal hearing or are awaiting the final judgment.

HC civil

Active cases are those cases that are proceeding to or awaiting a defended hearing or are awaiting final judgment.
They are limited to general proceedings, originating applications and judicial reviews.

HC criminal trials

Active cases are those cases that are proceeding to or awaiting a jury trial, judge-alone trial, sentencing or final outcome.