CLOSURE of the Balranald Court next month could have serious ramifications, a top New South Wales lawyer has warned.
Lawyer Joseph Hull said the decision by the NSW Department of Justice (DOJ) to close the court in favour of hearings at Hay Local Court could result in more arrests, as defendants miss court appearances to try to avoid travel costs.
Defendants who don’t appear in court are found guilty in absentia and a warrant is issued for their arrest.
The president of the Far West Region Law Society also said the new location of the court, 130 km from Balranald, could result in more defendants pleading guilty.
“There’s an implicit pressure placed on people to plead guilty and get their matter finalised as soon as possible,” Mr Hull said.
“If you’re faced with a number of court dates in a criminal matter… or you can finalise it today… you’ll say ‘bugger it I’ll plead guilty I don’t want to travel’.”
Mr Hull said the absence of the court might also dissuade Balranald locals from pursuing smaller matters.
“For someone to make a minor civil claim, they’re going to incur a pretty large expense just to get to court or back,” he said.
“If it’s (about) $500 for example, the cost of getting to court is going to cut into the point of doing it.”
For more on this story pick up a copy of Friday’s Guardian (November 20).
