ACT Supreme court blitz has been hailed a success by Attorney General Simon Corbell, with 90 per cent of backlogged criminal cases settled in a six week period.

The blitz was a collaboration between courts, the legal profession and the ACT Government.

“The government is dedicated to reducing the backlog and it pleasing to see these measures are beginning to take effect,” Mr Corbell said.

“Of the 72 matters listed for the first five weeks of the blitz, more than half of the matters were settled (42 matters), nine matters were completed with decisions reserved, four matters were vacated, two matters adjourned, one matter discontinued, one sent to a referee and three matters are still in progress.

“Of the 39 criminal cases listed in the first six week period, 32 already had a trial date and 31 of those were brought forward. More than half of these were brought forward by more than seven months.”

Mr Corbell spoke to ACT lawyers, judges, magistrates and Law Society officials at a breakfast today officially launching this year’s  National Law week which runs from May 14 to 20.