SUMMARY MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CROWN COURT RULES COMMITTEE HELD AT THE ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE
TUESDAY 15 JUNE 2010.

Present:
The Rt Hon Sir Declan Morgan, Lord Chief Justice (Chairman)
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Higgins
The Honourable Mr Justice Hart
Mr Kerr QC
Mr Archer Esq.
Mr McCourt Esq.
Mr Moffitt Esq.

In attendance:
Simon Rogers (Joint Secretary)
Robert Crawford
John Halliday
Paul Mitchell

Apologies:
His Honour Judge Burgess
Master McCorry

Summary Minutes

  1. The Committee considered the draft Criminal Aid Certificates Rules (Northern Ireland) 2010.
  2. The Committee considered Article 4 (6) of the draft 2010 Rules and whether it should be expanded to include offences such as attempted murder, manslaughter, rape and attempted rape and firearms offences with intent to endanger life and whether it was correct for article 4 to prescribe pages of evidence and numbers of witnesses.
  3. The Committee then considered if the 2010 Rules provided appropriate provision for senior counsel in Northern Ireland.
  4. The Committee then considered the impact of the 2010 Rules on youth courts and delay in the justice system.
  5. The NICTS agreed to consider the concerns expressed at the meeting about the narrowness of the provisions for two counsel in appropriate cases.
  6. There being no other business, the meeting concluded.