More Information

A "summary case conference" is a Court appearance under the new "notice to appear" system to determine whether the matter can resolve.

A "summary case conference" is also to decide what parts of the brief (ie statements) will be provided to the defence. Because with preliminary briefs the Police will not have taken a lot of statements it means they will have to go off and obtain them. You can expect Prosecutors to be trying to stop this happening and putting up objections to various witness statements being asked for.

As the summary case conference is a new procedure it remains to be seen how the Magistrates' respond. You would expect that there will be some who think it is fair for the defence to know the case against them. Others will be make it hard for you at this stage to get documents that you may need. Until the process is clearer you should have your lawyer at the summary case conference to protect your interests.