Legal Project Management Plan & Checklist
Purpose of this Guide: Use this fork when the defendant enters a not guilty plea to a summary criminal charge and proceeds to a defended trial. It covers the statutory pre-trial procedures, case review, and trial preparation.
Jurisdiction: New Zealand District Court. This applies to Category 2 offences (Judge-alone) and Category 3 offences (Judge-alone or Jury depending on election).
After a not guilty plea, the matter proceeds to Case Review. The prosecution and defence must jointly file a Case Management Memorandum 5 working days before the hearing. The defence must also comply with strict reciprocal disclosure obligations, including serving Notices of Alibi or expert evidence within statutory timeframes. Pre-trial applications and complainant suppression reviews are handled before the trial callover and the ultimate trial.
Key Legislation and Case Law: Criminal Procedure Act 2011 - Part 3 (Defended Trials), s 55 (Case Review). Criminal Disclosure Act 2008 - s 22 (Notice of Alibi within 21 days), s 23 (Expert Witness Evidence). Criminal Procedure Rules 2012 - Rule 4.2 (Case Review Timelines), Rule 4.6 (CMM Filing), Rule 5.2/5.4 (Pre-Trial Applications). Criminal Procedure Amendment Rules 2026 - Rule 4.4A/B (Complainant Suppressions).
* Disclaimer: We're nobody's lawyer, because we aren't lawyers. You are, so you know better than to take legal advice from an app. We also aren't accountants or dog trainers - just digital spirit guides taking zero liability for any of this. This site exists to gather the collective knowledge of practitioners like you. Verify everything and submit your feedback on the Summary Offence - Criminal (Defendant) - Defended Trial Pathway matter plan to improve the playbook. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, it's a request for input.
This legal matter plan provides a structured workflow for Criminal Law cases, outlining the standard Litigation process. Utilize these tracking templates to manage your legal cases efficiently.
Verify all prerequisite documentation has been obtained, cross-reference against the statutory requirements for this matter type, and confirm compliance with practice direction protocols.
Criminal Procedure Rules 2012 Rule 4.2: Case review timelines: 30 days for Judge-Alone, 45 days for Jury Trial.
Prepare the relevant forms and supporting materials required under the applicable legislation, ensuring all mandatory fields are completed and all attachments are properly certified.
Criminal Disclosure Act 2008 s 22: Alibi notice must be served within 21 days. s 23: Expert evidence disclosure.
Draft and dispatch formal correspondence addressing the procedural requirements at this stage, including any required notices, requests for information, or proposals for resolution.
Criminal Procedure Rules 2012 Rule 4.6: Joint CMM must be filed 5 working days prior to Case Review.
Coordinate the collection and review of all financial documentation required for disclosure, including statements, valuations, and supporting schedules as mandated by the rules.
Conduct a thorough review of all filed materials to ensure compliance with court requirements, verify service obligations have been met, and prepare for the next procedural milestone.
Assess the strategic considerations for interim applications, prepare supporting evidence, and draft the necessary documentation for urgent or time-sensitive relief sought.
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