Prepare a civil case for trial (from 1 April 2022)

Streamlining interlocutory matters.

The purpose of the case conference is for the court to take control of, set the timelines, and give directions for the proceedings. The intent is for the case conference to be presided over by the judges or registrars in consultation with the judges. This will ensure that the judges have close control over the manner in which a case progresses. Generally, a registrar will conduct a case conference but the registrar may refer any matter to a judge. The judge will be actively involved from the outset and as cases progress, working with the parties to find the best way to resolve each case, and eliminating extraneous issues. Further, the ideals in the Rules of Court 2021 will serve as a lodestar for the orders and directions to be made at the case conference regardless of whether the case conference is conducted by a judge or registrar.

In the pre-trial stages, each party may file interlocutory applications to the court in order to further the preparation of their case. Interlocutory applications are generally to be filed as part of the Single Application Pending Trial (SAPT).

In general, the production of documents under the Rules of Court 2021 (ROC 2021) is guided by the five Ideals and two principles.

The concurrent expert evidence procedure is a technique for admitting expert evidence where such evidence is required in civil cases.

After all pre-trial matters have been dealt with and the parties are ready for trial, parties should set down the case for trial.