Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Case management definition

What does Case management mean? In practice, case management is the court’s active control of civil proceedings so a case progresses efficiently, fairly and at proportionate cost. Through case management conferences and pre-trial reviews, the court sets timetables, gives directions on statements of case/pleadings, disclosure and expert evidence, narrows the issues, encourages ADR, and enforces compliance with sanctions; in some jurisdictions it also manages costs budgets. In England and Wales, the Civil Procedure Rules govern case management: the overriding objective (Part 1) and case management powers (Part 3) drive directions, track allocation and costs management. In Scotland, active judicial case management is embedded in the Court...

Magistrates’ Courts Case Management (England and Wales): Pre-appearance disclosure, first hearings and pleas, PET/BCM, directions, adjournments, live links and sanctions under CrimPR 2025 and the Criminal Practice Directions

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Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out and clarifies the Case management powers of the magistrates’ courts when handling summary-only matters or either-way cases that are before the magistrates’ courts in the ordinary course.

The overriding objective

In line with the overriding objective, courts must actively manage proceedings so that they are dealt with justly, efficiently and with expedition, avoiding unnecessary delay. In effect, each case requires robust, proactive oversight by the court. In addition, the prosecution and the defence must assist the court to make sure their case progresses as efficiently as possible at every stage.

Case management in the magistrates’ court

Case management in the magistrates’ court is governed by the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (CrimPR 2025), SI 2025/909, Pt 3, together with the Criminal Practice Directions 2023 (CPD). Criminal lawyers should also ensure they are familiar with the requirements of the Better Case Management Handbook and the Transforming Summary Justice (TSJ) Renewal Programme. Taken together, CrimPR 2025, SI 2025/909 and the CPDs form the applicable law, setting out a binding code of current practice for the courts to which they are directed and promoting the consistent administration of justice...

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Saba Naqshbandi

3 Raymond Buildings

Saba Naqshbandi KC is a leading specialist in health and safety, public inquiries and inquests, environmental and financial crime. She is known for her strategic, commercially focused approach and her outstanding written and oral advocacy.In her first year as King’s Counsel, Saba was named Chambers and Partners Health & Safety Silk of the Year 2025, a reflection of her renowned expertise. She is consistently recommended in the legal directories as a top-tier practitioner in health and safety, public inquiries and inquests, financial crime, and licensing....

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