Please note that as and from the 1st day of October 2026, all cases where a notice of trial has issued will be treated as being ready to go on.
No application for adjournment of such cases will be granted except for exceptional and compelling reasons such as the death or serious illness of one the parties or an essential witness.
Where a case that has been listed for hearing and is not ready to go on, the notice of trial will be struck out unless the reason for not being able to proceed with the hearing is due to exceptional circumstances or that the making of such an order would be manifestly unjust to one or both of the parties or would facilitate a party who is not progressing their side of the case in a timely and efficient manner.
Matters should only be set down for trial where they are ready to be tried.
Ex-parte applications relating to County Registrar motions will only be dealt with by the County Registrar. No such applications will be listed before the Circuit Court judge unless they are an appeal from a decision of the County Registrar.
All Ex-parte matters should be listed before the court where the case is listed.
This direction is being given to encourage efficiency and to ensure full and effective use of the resources of the Courts Service.
Your co-operation in the implementation of these directions is appreciated.
Issued by the Honourable Mr Justice Keenan Johnson
President of the Circuit Court
on the 21st day of September 2026
