Practice Direction on Listing and guidance for live links in the criminal courts comes into effect tomorrow
A new national framework for listing cases in the criminal courts of England and Wales comes into effect tomorrow (1 October), supporting a more consistent approach to listing and helping courts to prioritise cases where delay has the greatest impact.
The new Practice Direction on Listing in the Criminal Courts is the first national framework for criminal listing and provides direction to judges on prioritising cases based on the human impact of delay on victims, witnesses and defendants, while ensuring fairness in proceedings.
A set of guidance notes have been published to support the implementation of the new arrangements and help the judiciary, HMCTS staff and practitioners apply the National Listing Framework in practice.
Alongside the Practice Direction on Listing coming into force, the Lady Chief Justice’s Guidance on Live Links in the criminal courts, which was published on 6 July 2026, is also to be implemented nationally by tomorrow (1 October). The guidance provides a clear national framework for the consistent use of remote participation in criminal proceedings, supporting access to justice and the efficient use of court resources.
Set to be published early November, the Domestic Abuse Best Listing Guidance will operate within the National Listing Framework. It will provide an expedited listing and case-management pathway for suitable domestic abuse cases.