The Law 101: Vacation warrants and the role of the CJ (Part IV)

The law and convention remain clear: administrative warrants keep the lights on for emergency justice, but judicial discretion ensures that counsel’s right to a statutory rest is respected.

Unless a special warrant explicitly commands a judge to conduct daily trial sittings during the recess, standard administrative warrants issued by the CJ are simply the routine, annual authorisations enabling designated vacation courts to sit.

Historically, vacation judges have exercised their discretion to indulge counsel who are unavailable due to the recess, planned travel, or professional engagements.