An Auckland district judge has written to lawyers warning of an influx of trials from another court and urging them to clear the decks.
The Auckland District Court already has a backlog of 90 cases waiting for a sentencing date and is about to take on the work of the Manukau court while it is refurbished.
Judge Nevin Dawson has written to Crown prosecutors, the Public Defence Service, and members of the Criminal Bar Association warning them.
His email, which was leaked to Radio New Zealand, asks for as many cases as possible to be brought forward to the beginning of November when a Dunedin judge is being sent to Auckland for a week to speed up hearings.
Chief district court judge, Jan Marie Doogue, agrees Auckland will be under extra pressure because of the Manukau refurbishment but says it will be able to handle the extra work.
