Purpose
- This notice outlines the arrangements for court sittings throughout the months of August and September 2026.
- Please note that these arrangements now formally adopt and incorporate the staggered vacation model trialled on a pilot basis in 2024 and 2025 under the guise of the Long Vacation Pilot Project (the “Pilot”).
Background to the Pilot
- The full background to the Pilot is set out in my notices of 21 December 2023, 4 March 2024 and 25 March 2025; but, in brief, the Pilot arose from a recommendation[1] set out in the Report of the Judicial Planning Working Group (February 2023) that consideration should be given to staggering court vacations.
- The Report, which also provided for the appointment of twelve additional High Court judges in two phases,[2] was accepted by the Government and roundly welcomed by the Court Presidents. It was clear, however, that the appointment of those additional judges would be significantly influenced by the implementation of the other recommendations set out in the Report. Accordingly, the High Court proceeded with the implementation of the Pilot. The first six of the twelve additional judges were appointed in 2023 and it is anticipated that the remaining six judges will be appointed in 2026.
- The Pilot introduced a staggered vacation model for three strategically important High Court lists: (a) Family, (b) Non-Jury/Judicial Review/Asylum and Immigration, and (c) Planning and Environment. Under this model, five judges took their vacation period across July and August, rather than the traditional vacation period of August and September, while continuing to undertake normal vacation sittings, judicial training and other judicial work. This meant that the business of these lists resumed in September, a month earlier than usual.
Feedback on 2024 and 2025 Pilot
- A period of consultation followed the conclusion of the 2024 Pilot where feedback was invited from practitioners, practitioner groups, the professional representative bodies, registrars, court staff and judges on the operation of the Pilot. Adjustments were then made in advance of the 2025 Pilot to ensure that any issues identified in respect of the operation of the 2024 Pilot were addressed.
- It was decided to run the 2025 Pilot across the same lists as those covered by the 2024 Pilot. This was due to the increasing workload of those lists, their strategic importance and the need to ensure sufficient judicial cover during the Summer Vacation. Running the Pilot for a second year in the same lists also facilitated a better assessment of the impact of the Pilot.
- Based on the positive feedback received which highlighted the benefits of the 2025 Pilot, it has been decided that these arrangements will now transition to business-as-usual sittings commencing in 2026.
Details of 2026 Summer Sittings
- The High Court lists covered by the Summer Vacation Sittings 2026 now include:
(a) Family
(b) Special Care
(c) Hague Luxembourg Convention
(d) Non-Jury/Judicial Review/Asylum and Immigration
(e) Planning and Environment
(f) Commercial
(g) Professional Disciplinary
(h) Inherent Jurisdiction Capacity
(i) Bail
(j) Extradition
- Detailed arrangements in respect of each of the abovementioned lists will be published in the Legal Diary within 21 days from the date of this Notice.
- The judges participating in the Summer Sittings 2026 will be afforded flexibility in respect of their vacation period, while continuing to carry out their other judicial duties, including their usual vacation sitting obligations, judgment preparation and writing, attending conferences and undertaking judicial training.
- The President of the High Court and the other judges in charge of the lists participating in the Summer Sittings 2026 will seek to ensure that the arrangements will operate as smoothly, fairly and efficiently as possible for everyone involved. It is envisaged that for the most part the listing of cases covered by the Summer Sittings 2026 will be on a consensual basis. Notwithstanding that, it may not in all cases be possible for cases to be listed on a consensual basis and the fixing of dates will ultimately be at the discretion of the judge in charge of the relevant list.
- Finally, counsel will not be expected or required to robe when appearing in cases covered by the Summer Sittings and should dress as they would for a vacation sitting.
2 March 2026Mr.
Justice David Barniville
President of the High Court
[1] Chapter 4, recommendation 12.
[2] Chapter 3, recommendation 1.
