Practice Direction No. 1 of 2026
The purpose of this Practice Direction (PD) is to outline court practices and modes of appearance (in person or online) in proceedings across the criminal and family violence divisions of the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
This PD will commence on 30 June 2026 and will revoke Practice Direction No. 1 of 2025 from that date.
The main purpose of the updated PD is to adjust court practices to enable the commencement of the Case Management System (CMS) in the criminal jurisdiction.
Summary of changes
- All references to EFAS removed [Various]
- Advice added to confirm that practitioners and informants must use the CMS portal to file, view and manage any documents with the Court in its Criminal Division [Paragraphs 7, 8, and throughout]
- Advice inserted regarding the requirements for filing amended charge sheets [Paragraph 10]
- Filing requirements inserted for bail applications after first remand hearings and for booked in plea hearings [Paragraphs 11 and 12]
- Minor amendment to clarify that amended hand-up briefs must be re-served and filed with new material clearly identified [Paragraph 18]
- Clarification made to appearance requirements for deferral of sentence [Paragraph 35]
- Reference to deferral of sentence removed from appearance requirements for judicial supervision hearings [Paragraph 43]
- Appearance requirements inserted for matters listed in the Remote Custody Court [Paragraphs 47, 49]
- Appearance requirements inserted for inquiries into fitness to plead [Paragraphs 54 – 56]
- Appearance requirements inserted for contested hearings, including those listed in the Intensive Case Management List. [Paragraphs 57 – 59, 61]
No changes have been made to directions relating to appearances in Family Violence and Personal Safety Intervention Order Proceedings [paragraphs 70 – 81].
Practice directions for civil jurisdiction
Please refer to Practice Direction No. 2 of 2025 for directions relevant to the civil division.
