By Dan Ilett, 15 June 2005 09:00
NEWS
The Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) has called for High Court judges to spend more time working on IT cases.
In a report on the future of the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) - a division of the High Court which hears specialist cases - LCJ Harry Woolf said there is enough "growing complexity" of cases in IT and a significant amount of money involved in disputes that more judges need to spend more time focusing on IT and construction.
Woolf wrote: "[T]he lack of involvement of High Court judges in the work of the TCC has been a source of concern within the IT and construction industries and within the profession.
"Hitherto the TCC has only had the services of one High Court judge for approximately half of his working time. It is now desirable for High Court judges to play a larger role in the management and trial of IT and construction litigation."
The move means the present High Court judge at the London TCC, Mr Justice Jackson, will be required to stop working on other areas and focus only on construction and IT cases.
Woolf added: "The High Court judge in charge of the TCC will no longer be required to spend half of each term away from the TCC. Instead he will be principally based at the TCC and will only sit in other courts when there is no TCC work requiring the immediate involvement of a High Court judge."
TECBAR, an association of barristers which specialises in IT and construction, has welcomed the decision.
In a press statement, the chairman of TECBAR Paul Darling said: "The need for a greater involvement of High Court judges in the work of the TCC has been at the focus of TECBAR's efforts for very many years. The measures come as a further and welcome recognition of the importance of the work of the court."
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