The Circuit Directions List manages all matters committed to the County Court from a circuit location where the accused has pleaded not guilty, as well all contested appeals.
The Circuit Directions List hears circuit directions hearings, appeal (first listing) hearings and consent bail variations.
Judge Mullaly
All enquiries and requests for matters listed in the 9.30am Circuit List should be made to circuits@countycourt.vic.gov.au, not to the judge’s chambers. If the matter is being case managed by a Criminal Division lawyer, enquiries and requests should be made to the Criminal Division lawyer case managing the matter to divisonlawyer@countycourt.vic.gov.au.
Where an accused pleads not guilty at the Magistrates' or Children's Court and is committed to a County Court circuit location for trial, the matter will be listed for a circuit directions hearing in the Circuit List. Following one or more circuit directions hearings, circuit sexual offences matters may then be listed in the Sexual Offences List for pre-trial hearings and/or for a directions hearing.
Where an appeal against conviction and sentence, a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) order or an Intervention Order is lodged at a County Court circuit location, the matter will be listed for an appeal (first listing) hearing in the Circuit List.
The Criminal Division practice note outlines the content of and requirements for these hearings.
Videolinks are automatically arranged between corresponding court locations and the Melbourne County Court facility for all circuit directions hearings dates. Parties may appear from Melbourne or from the corresponding circuit location for all such hearings.
If seeking to appear via videolink from any other Victorian court location, parties must contact the relevant circuit registry to confirm that the videolink can be accommodated. A completed application for videolink (criminal or civil), and audio-visual link call set-up form must be emailed to videolinks@countycourt.vic.gov.au. Leave is not required.
Leave is required to appear at circuit directions hearings from a non-Victorian court or interstate location. Requests for leave must be directed to the Melbourne Circuit Team (circuits@countycourt.vic.gov.au). If leave is granted, parties are required to complete all relevant videolink paperwork and pay the appropriate fees.
Accused in custody are not required to appear in person or via videolink for circuit directions hearings, unless ordered to do so by a Judge or a request is made by the parties. Requests for accused in custody to appear in person or via videolink at a circuit directions hearing should be directed to circuits@countycourt.vic.gov.au.
Accused in custody will attend hearings in the Sexual Offences List via videolink unless the Court makes an order or a party requests the accused appear in person.
Parties may appear in the Sexual Offences List by videolink. They should book the videolink with the location from which they will appear then contact the videolink coordinator on 03 8636 6530 or via email at videolinks@countycourt.vic.gov.au. If a party wishes to appear from an interstate or non-standard court location, leave from a judge is required. Leave may be obtained by contacting sexualoffences.list@countycourt.vic.gov.au.
Anyone seeking to attend a virtual hearing or eHearing at 9am must register their appearance or attendance by completing the online registration form on the Virtual hearings and trials webpage.
All documents for matters listed in the Circuit Directions List should be lodged via eLodgement. Documents cannot be filed via email.
Self-represented litigants should contact circuits@countycourt.vic.gov.au for all filing and other Circuit List enquiries
Parties who are unable to meet document filing deadlines must email circuits@countycourt.vic.gov.au.
Circuit roster enquiries: Circuit Coordinator 03 8636 6504.
Circuit directions hearings and appeal (first listing) enquiries:
Circuit matters listed for a directions hearing in the Sexual Offences List contact the associates to the Sexual Offences List.
Circuit trials, and conviction and sentence appeals:
Circuit pleas and sentence only appeals:
Requests for hearings (all circuit criminal and appeal matters):
eLodged documents:
Videolinks:
Any feedback about the operation of the Circuit List should be directed to the judge’s associate in charge of the list by sending an email to the judge's chambers email address.