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Question Details: I have been summoned to the District Court on the 19th of December. Is it possible to change the date as I can't make it that day due to study commitments. How do I go about changing this?
Filed under Criminal Law | 6483 View(s)
Community Law Wellington & Hutt Valley
If you have been summoned to appear at the District Court but are unavailable on this date, please call that court as soon as possible and ask them to change the scheduled date.
The Court has discretion to change the date you are scheduled to appear (as a defendant or witness) if good reasons are provided in support of your request. Click here for contact details for your local District Court: www.justice.govt.nz.
Please ensure that when you contact the Court you provide them with clear convincing reasons why you want the date to change. However, even if you do this, the Court may be unable to change the date at late notice, and you may be required to reschedule your existing commitments. If the date does not change, and you do not attend, a warrant can be issued for your arrest.
If you are appearing as a defendant and are represented by a lawyer, we recommend that you request your lawyer apply to the Court on your behalf. Click here for more information on criminal court proceedings, in the Community Law Manual: www.communitylaw.org.nz. Click here for Ministry of Justice information about appearing as a witness: www.justice.govt.nz.
Answered 17 Dec 2012. The IMPORTANT NOTICE below is part of this answer.
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