IT IS less likely Wimmera residents involved in serious legal matters will have to travel to have their day in court in 2020.
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The Supreme Court of Victoria has allocated 38 days available to hear matters locally in Horsham, as it seeks to make justice more accessible to regional Victorians.
On Monday, the court released its calendar, with up to 670 days available for hearings across regional Victoria.
The calendar includes periods in Horsham in July and August for the Common Law Division and in May for the Court of Appeal.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in Victoria, and hears the most serious criminal, and complex civil, cases as well as some appeals from lower Victorian courts and tribunals. Only the High Court of Australia can review its decisions.
A spokeswoman for the court said it scheduled more days than needed in regional areas such as Horsham "to ensure if there are matters that need to be heard the court can be in the region for them".
"The court sat for 12 days in Horsham in 2019, 10 of them for the Janice Bufton trial," she said.
"All hearings, whether they be in regional areas or Melbourne, can create logistical and legal issues which are managed in combination with the sitting Judge, the parties, security services, court staff and court orders."
In a statement, Chief Justice Anne Ferguson said: "The more we can take the Court to locations that are closer to the individuals, companies and communities involved, the more we can demystify the work and role of the Court and develop, listen and learn ourselves."
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