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Circuit Facts and FiguresIn keeping with our responsibility toadminister justice for all Victorians,the Court’s Judges sit at 13 regionalcentres across the State.Judges conduct circuits throughoutthe year, allowing litigants, witnessesand accused persons to appear attheir local court rather than travellingto Melbourne.The information below summarisesfacts and figures regarding the workof the Court’s Judges on circuit.• During 2004–05, Judges held115 circuit sittings (111 in2003–04).• Each Judge presides over two(sometimes three) circuits peryear.• In general, circuits extend overa period of one month’s duration,although some circuitswill be scheduled to accommodatefewer cases and thereforelast for a shorter period (e.g.one to two weeks).• Circuit locations have a specificcourtroom set aside for use bythe County Court.• An associate and tipstaffaccompany the Judge on his orher circuit.• The larger circuit courts (suchas Ballarat, Bendigo andGeelong) can accommodatemore than one Judge sitting atthe same time.• As many as 10 to 12 Judgesmay be on circuit at any onetime, representing 18–20% ofJudges.• Circuit sittings provide avaluable service to Victorianslocated in regional areas.• Circuits may be allocated forhearing either criminal or civilcases, or be general in nature,hearing cases in both jurisdictions.• Criminal matters heard oncircuit include trials, pleas andappeals.• Three Judges regularly visitregional locations to conductcriminal pre-trial hearings.• Civil matters heard on circuitinclude matters from theBusiness List and Damages Listand may include serious injuryapplications.• Some circuits are specificallyorganised for WorkCovercases.• Judges conduct Civil pre-trialhearings by video link withcircuit court locations.• A Judge may deal with adoptionmatters on circuit.His Honour Chief Judge Rozenesspeaks at the official opening of theMildura Law Courts on 23 November2004. His Honour Judge Pilgrim conductedthe first County Court hearingat the new premises.Civil Case Activity by Location—2003–04 to 2004–05Initiated Finalised PendingLocation 04–05 03–04 04–05 03–04 04–05 03–04Bairnsdale 2 9 1 2 n/a 14Ballarat 87 162 153 156 72 202Bendigo 86 142 110 96 55 192Geelong 145 243 169 193 60 288Hamilton 23 45 56 40 22 87Horsham 8 4 3 10 0 5Mildura 54 42 48 45 35 45Morwell 68 167 133 122 69 199Sale 8 9 1 5 n/a 19Shepparton 23 76 23 65 13 108Wangaratta 76 77 59 207 39 104Warrnambool 125 164 146 89 143 240Wodonga 39 90 57 42 54 139Total 744 1,230 959 1,072 562 1,642Criminal Case Activity by Location—2003–04 to 2004–05Initiated Finalised PendingLocation 04–05 03–04 04–05 03–04 04–05 03–04Bairnsdale 22 8 15 7 19 7Ballarat 68 84 62 74 50 61Bendigo 70 87 80 77 59 78Geelong 70 94 96 107 55 77Hamilton 8 2 3 5 7 2Horsham 10 23 16 17 7 14Mildura 32 32 32 29 26 28Morwell 68 81 74 81 52 72Sale 4 4 5 4 1 2Shepparton 53 53 36 33 50 41Wangaratta 27 15 14 28 23 14Warrnambool 14 10 12 18 9 5Wodonga 16 8 12 15 12 8Total 462 525 457 524 370 423n/a: Bairnsdale, Sale, and Morwell work collaboratively to deal with managing the lists.The decrease in pending cases can be attributed to disposing of numerous tort law reform cases referred to on page 20.Court Performance 33