Crimes (Criminal Appeals) Amendment Act 2001

1: Title
1: This Act is the Crimes (Criminal Appeals) Amendment Act 2001.
2: In this Act, the Crimes Act 1961 the principal Act
2: Commencement
This Act comes into force on a date to be appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council.
1: Amendments to principal Act
3: Interpretation
Section 379 rules of Court and section 51C Judicature Act 1908
4: Revesting and restitution of property on conviction
Section 387(1) paragraphs (a) (b)
a: in any case, until the expiration of any period within which an appeal against conviction or sentence may be lodged; and
b: if an appeal against conviction or sentence is lodged, until the determination of the appeal, unless otherwise ordered by the Court,—.
5: Time for appealing
1: Section 388(1) 10 days 28 days
2: Section 388(1)
6: New
section 390 The principal Act is amended by repealing section 390
390: Duty of Solicitor-General
1: It is the duty of the Solicitor-General to—
a: represent the Crown on every appeal against conviction or sentence; and
b: appear at every hearing involving oral submissions on an appeal or application for leave to appeal under this Part.
2: The Solicitor-General's duties under subsection (1)
a: may be performed by any other counsel employed or engaged by the Crown; and
b: do not apply in the case of a private prosecution.
7: Duties of Registrar with respect to notices of appeal, etc
1: Section 392 subsection (1)
1A: For every appeal against conviction or sentence, the Registrar must prepare a preliminary case on appeal comprising—
a: the trial transcript; and
b: the trial Judge's summing up to the jury, if the Registrar considers it relevant to the grounds of appeal; and
c: any other documents, exhibits, or other things connected with the proceedings that the Registrar considers are relevant to the grounds of appeal and appropriate for inclusion in the preliminary case on appeal.
1B: A preliminary case on appeal prepared under subsection (1A)
a: the Court or Judge deciding the mode of hearing; and
b: the parties to the appeal; and
c: the Legal Services Agency, on request by the Agency.
2: Section 392(2)
3: Section 392
6: When notifying parties about the decision on the mode of hearing, the Registrar must also advise parties of the procedure and time frames required by the rules of Court relating to—
a: making written submissions on the mode of hearing; and
b: in the case of a hearing on the papers, making written submissions on the appeal or application, for consideration at the hearing; and
c: in the case of an oral hearing, providing written material to the Court and the other party; and
d: in all cases, exercising the right of reply.
7: After an appeal or application is determined by the Court, the Registrar must send a copy of the decision to the parties as soon as is reasonably practicable.
8: New
sections 392A 392B The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately before section 393
392A: Decision about mode of hearing
1: An appeal or application for leave to appeal must be dealt with by way of a hearing involving oral submissions unless the Judge or Court making the decision on the mode of hearing determines, on the basis of the information contained in the notice of appeal, notice of application, or other written material provided by the parties, that the appeal or application—
a: can be fairly dealt with on the papers; and
b: either has no realistic prospect of success or clearly should be allowed.
2: In determining whether an appeal or application can be fairly dealt with on the papers, the Judge or Court may consider any matters relevant to the decision on the mode of hearing, including such matters as—
a: whether the appellant has been assisted by counsel in preparing the appeal or application:
b: whether the appellant has been provided with copies of the relevant trial documentation:
c: the gravity of the offence:
d: the nature and complexity of the issues raised by the appeal or application:
e: whether evidence should be called:
f: any relevant cultural or personal factors.
3: A Judge of the Court of Appeal, acting alone, may make a decision about the mode of hearing a particular appeal or application, but no Judge acting alone may reverse a decision on mode that has been made by the Court.
4: The Court of Appeal may, at any time, either on its own initiative or on the application of any party, change the mode of hearing a particular appeal or application to an oral hearing, having regard to any written submissions made by the parties concerning the mode of hearing.
5: The Court or Judge making the decision on the mode of hearing must apply section 392B(2)
6: Every decision about the mode of hearing an appeal or application must be in writing, be accompanied by reasons (unless the decision is that the hearing will be an oral hearing), and be provided by the Registrar to the parties.
392B: Hearings on the papers
1: This section applies to appeals and applications for leave to appeal that are disposed of by the Court of Appeal by way of a hearing on the papers.
2: The parties to the appeal or application may make written, but not oral, submissions to the Court, and may include in their submissions—
a: additional relevant written material; and
b: responses to any submissions made by the other party.
3: Neither the parties nor their representatives may appear before the Court.
4: The appeal or application must be determined by the Court on the basis of the written material before it.
5: Consideration of the written material may be undertaken in whatever manner the Court thinks fit.
6: Paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) of section 389
9: Right of appellant to be represented
1: The heading to section 395 , and restriction on attendance
2: Section 395 subsection (1)
1: At the hearing of an appeal, or an application for leave to appeal, or on any proceedings preliminary or incidental to an appeal or application, the appellant may be represented by counsel.
1A: If an appellant is in custody, he or she is not entitled to be present at a hearing involving oral submissions unless—
a: the rules of Court provide that he or she has the right to be present; or
b: the Court of Appeal gives leave for him or her to be present.
10: Judgment of Court of Appeal
Section 398 subsection (2)
2: Every judgment of the Court of Appeal on an appeal or application under this Part (other than one relating to a preliminary or incidental matter) must be accompanied by reasons.
11: Rules of Court
1: Section 409(1) High Court , the Court of Appeal,
2: Section 409 subsection (2)
2: Until such rules are made, and so far as they do not extend, the existing practice and procedure of the High Court and the Court of Appeal remain and are in force in those Courts as far as they are not altered by or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
3: The practice and procedure of the High Court must be followed by all District Courts in proceedings on indictment.
12: Transitional provisions
1: If, before the commencement of this Act, a fixture for a hearing involving oral submissions has been set down for an appeal or application, then the principal Act and the Court of Appeal (Criminal) Rules 1997
2: Any other appeal or application made before the commencement of this Act must be dealt with as if it had been made after the commencement of this Act, and the principal Act and the Court of Appeal (Criminal) Rules 1997
2: Validation of determinations
13: Validation of determinations made before act commences
1: No determination of an appeal or application for leave to appeal that was made under Part 13
a: a failure to comply with Part 13 Court of Appeal (Criminal) Rules 1997
b: a failure to comply with the Criminal Appeal Rules 1946
c: a failure to give reasons for the determination or judgment.
2: Subsection (1)
a: Fa'afete Taito v The Queen
b: James McLeod Bennett and 11 Others v Attorney-General and 2 Others
3: Nothing in this section affects the right of any person to apply for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.
14: Application for leave for rehearing
1: This section applies to any person—
a: who appealed, or applied for leave to appeal, under Part 13
b: who applied for legal aid in respect of the appeal or application, but was not granted legal aid in respect of it; and
c: whose appeal or application was determined without oral submissions being heard; and
d: whose appeal or application was dismissed.
2: An applicant to whom this section applies may, at any time before the closing date set by Order in Council made under subsection (4) section 16
3: An application for a rehearing must—
a: identify a failure of the sort described in any of paragraphs (a) (b) (c)
b: set out the grounds on which the applicant claims that a miscarriage of justice has occurred.
4: The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, set the closing date by which applications for leave for a rehearing must be received by the Court of Appeal. The Order in Council may not be made until at least 1 year after the date on which the following cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council are finally determined:
a: Fa'afete Taito v The Queen
b: James McLeod Bennett and 11 Others v The Queen
15: Decision on application for leave for rehearing
1: The decision on an application for leave for a rehearing must be made by a Judge of the Court of Appeal, acting alone, on the basis of—
a: written material provided by the applicant in his or her application; and
b: any written submissions made by the respondent; and
c: any written submissions provided by the applicant in response to written submissions made by the respondent; and
d: any documents that form part of the Court record that the Judge considers necessary for the proper determination of the application.
2: Neither the parties nor their representatives may appear before a Judge on an application for leave for a rehearing.
3: The Registrar must, upon request, supply an applicant or prospective applicant with any documents that form part of the Court record that the Registrar considers necessary for the proper determination of the application.
4: The Judge must grant leave for a rehearing if he or she is satisfied that—
a: a failure of the sort described in any of paragraphs (a) (b) (c) 13(1)
b: there is an arguable case that a miscarriage of justice has occurred.
16: Rehearing of appeals and applications
1: The Court of Appeal may rehear any appeal, or application for leave to appeal, for which leave has been granted under section 15
2: The rehearing of an appeal or application for leave to appeal must be conducted as if it were an original appeal or application, and Part 13