Commentary on Sections Part 1 - Proceedings in the High Court Section 1 - Preliminary hearings
8.Section 1 makes provision for the new mandatory preliminary hearings in High Court cases. It substitutes new provisions into the 1995 Act setting out the procedure to be followed at such hearings, the process of setting a trial date, and the approach to be followed when the hearing does not proceed or the court concludes that it can be dispensed with. It also provides for the court at a preliminary hearing to take account of the written record of the state of preparation of the case prepared and lodged by parties in relation to the case.