High Court of Justice — Christmas Vacation 2024-2025
Administrative CourtChancery DivisionFamily DivisionHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionTechnology and Construction CourtNews
NOTICE
The Royal Courts of Justice and Rolls Building will be closed from Wednesday 25th December 2024 to Friday 27th December 2024 inclusive and on Wednesday 1st January 2025.
There will be no sitting in court during the Christmas Vacation
During the Christmas Vacation, any causes, matters or applications in any Division which “require at be immediately or promptly heard” will be heard by the Judge acting as Vacation Judge for the appropriate Division as detailed below.
The quotation is taken from Order 64, Rule 3 (1), replacing a rule which was fully analysed in Esso Petroleum Co Ltd v Dawn Property Co Ltd {1973} 1WLR 1450; {1973} 3 All E R 181
No application which does not fall strictly within this category will be dealt with.
CHANCERY DIVISION
The Honourable Mr Justice Richard Smith will act as Vacation Judge from 4:15pm on Friday 20th December 2024 to 10.15am on Friday 27th December 2024 inclusive.
The Honourable Mr Justice Rajah will act as Vacation Judge from 10.15am on Friday 27th December 2024 to 10.15am on Thursday 2nd January 2025 inclusive.
The Honourable Mr Justice Richards will act as Vacation Judge from 10.15am on Thursday 2nd January 2025 to 10.15am on Monday 13th January 2025 inclusive.
KING’S BENCH DIVISION
The Honourable Mr Justice Cotter will act as Vacation Judge from 4.15pm on Friday 20th December 2024 to 10am on Monday 23rd December 2024 inclusive.
The Honourable Mr Justice Bright will act as Vacation Judge from 10am on Monday 23rd December 2024 to 10am on Tuesday 24th December 2024 inclusive.
The Honourable Mr Justice Sheldon will act as Vacation Judge from 10am on Tuesday 24th December 2024 to 10am on Thursday 26th December 2024 inclusive.
The Honourable Mr Justice Bright will act as Vacation Judge from 10am on Thursday 26th December 2024 to 4:15pm on Sunday 29th December 2024 inclusive.
The Honourable Mrs Justice Heather Williams will act as Vacation Judge from 4:15pm on Sunday 29th December 2024 to 10am on Tuesday 2nd January 2025 inclusive.
The Honourable Mr Justice Eyre will act as Vacation Judge from 10am on Thursday 2nd January 2025 to 10am on Monday 6th January 2025 inclusive.
The Honourable Mrs Justice Hill will act as Vacation Judge from 10am on Monday 6th January 2025 to 4:15pm on Thursday 9th January 2025 inclusive.
The Honourable Mr Justice Dexter Dias will act as Vacation Judge from 4:15pm on Thursday 9th January 2025 to 10am on Monday 13th January 2025 inclusive.
When the Judge is not sitting in court hours, applications may be made if necessary, but only in cases of extreme urgency, to the Judge personally. The address of the Judge must first be obtained through the Clerk to the Judge on Vacation duty, whose details may be obtained from the listing office to the appropriate Division, or where the offices are closed, at the Security Office (020 7947 6260). Applications to the Judge personally are not to be made except after reference to the Judge’s clerk or the office responsible for listing for the appropriate Division.
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
A nominated Judge will sit throughout the Vacation Period to deal with matters in the Administrative Court List. All applications during office hours must be made to the Listing Office (listoffice@administrativecourtoffice.justice.gov.uk). Out of normal hours the telephone number of the Duty Judge can be obtained from the Security Office (020 7947 6260).
The procedure to be followed in respect of applications to the Family Division and the Technology & Construction Court is set out below.
FAMILY DIVISION
FAMILY DIVISION MATTERS PROCEEDING IN THE HIGH COURT
Leave for urgent summonses to be listed by the Vacation Judge (a Circuit Judge sitting as a Judge of the High Court) must first be obtained from the District Judge of the Principal Registry of the Family Division, after which the summons should be taken to the Clerk of the Rules Department (Queen’s Building, first floor mezzanine) at the Royal Courts of Justice for formal issue. When the Judge is not sitting in chambers, applications may be made if necessary, but only in cases of extreme urgency, to the High Court Vacation Judge. Contact will be made through this office (Tel: 020 7947 6543; email: rcj.familylisting@justice.gov.uk) during office hours or at the Security Office (Tel: 020 7947 6260) at other times.
MATRIMONAL CAUSES PENDING IN DIVORCE COUNTY COURTS
A Circuit Judge will be available during the Vacation period to deal with urgent applications in matrimonial causes proceeding in the Family Proceedings Branch and treated as pending in a Divorce County Court.
Enquiries should be made in the first instance to the Central Family Court, First Avenue House (Tel: 03001235577).
Leave to issue an urgent application by notice should be obtained from a District Judge, after which the application should be taken to the Clerk of the Rules Department for a date to be fixed and for the formal issue of the application.
A District Judge will pronounce decrees under the Special Procedure (Family Proceedings Rule 236) throughout the Vacation.
TECHNOLOGY and CONSTRUCTION COURT BUSINESS
During the Vacation, Judges of the Technology & Construction Court will be sitting sit on various dates through the vacation period to deal with summonses by appointment and in the case of urgent matters at other times by arrangement with the clerks to the Judges of the Technology & Construction Court. Enquiries should be made to the Registry Office (Tel: 020 7947 6022; email: tcc.listing@justice.gov.uk).