Criminal Procedure Rules 2005

If on the first occasion the accused is required to plead to a charge in an indictment, the accused enters any plea other than a plea of guilty, the proceedings may be adjourned to a status hearing.

If a new trial is ordered (whether at trial or on appeal) the court may order that a status hearing be held.

The court must fix the time and place for a status hearing.

A judge must preside at a status hearing.

At a status hearing the court shall inquire into these matters —

whether every requirement imposed by or under the CPA to lodge and serve a document has been complied with;

whether there are any matters that should be dealt with at a pre‑trial hearing;

whether the case is ready to go to trial;

the dates when the parties will be available for a trial.

At a status hearing the court may —

act under the CPA section 93;

deal with any application under the CPA section 89, 90, 97, 118, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136 or 138;

exercise any of its powers in those sections if it can do so on its own initiative;

exercise any of its powers in the CPA section 98 or 137;

adjourn the status hearing from time to time;

order that a pre‑trial hearing be held to deal with specified issues and fix the time and place for it;

fix the date of the trial.

At the conclusion of a status hearing the proceedings must be adjourned to the date of a pre‑trial hearing or to the date of the trial, as the case requires.