DIRECTIONS HEARING IN A CRIMINAL CASE

A directions hearing is heard some time shortly before a County Court trial or Supreme Court trial. A directions hearing is generally heard either at 9 am or 9.30 depending on the Judge involved. It is very important that you are at Court on time for a directions hearing. They are not like many Court hearings where the time they start is very flexible.

Supreme Court or County Court Directions Hearings in a criminal case normally proceed very close to the time they are are listed and they do not take very long in Court time.

The first directions hearing is mainly aimed at case management to make sure that everything is going along on track.

A directions hearing enables the County Court or Supreme Court, amongst other things, to check that witnesses are available and that the accused has funds in place to pay for their representation.

At the directions hearing the Judge will make any necessary orders or directions relating to the case.