The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published the Commercial Court annual report 2022–23. The report covers the work of the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court; new claims, paper applications and length of trials; shorter and flexible trials and expedition; management of lead times and listing issues; and social mobility and diversity issues. In an introduction to the report, Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court, Mr Justice Foxton, has highlighted the increase in claims issued in all courts covered by the report, a trend towards ‘determining more limited and ancillary applications on paper rather than at hearings’, and encouragement of junior advocacy at shorter hearings and in and after trials.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published the Commercial Court annual report 2023–24. The report covers the work of the Commercial Court and the London Circuit Commercial Court, highlighting the issuance of 743 new claims in the Commercial Court and 1,082 claims in both courts combined. The report notes increased numbers of trials, hearings, judicial sitting days, substantive judgments and new arbitration claims, with international disputes comprising about 75% of the work. The Commercial Court handles claims valued at £8m or more, while the London Circuit Commercial Court deals with claims valued between £1m and £8m. In an introduction to the report, Mr Justice Henshaw, Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court, thanked his predecessor Mr Justice Foxton for his leadership and emphasised the importance of arbitration, junior advocacy, outreach programs and dispute resolution outside London.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published its 'Review of the Year in the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division 2022-2023'. This includes an overview of the Court’s work, work of the Criminal Appeal Office, changes to Criminal Practice Directions and various guides on topics such as on protest cases, new offences and miscarriages of justice.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published the updated version of the Crown Court Compendium Parts I and II. This is the ninth edition of the Compendium and is up to date as of July 2024.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published ‘Guidance No 46 Obtaining information regarding social media use’ from the Chief Coroner, HHJ Thomas Teague KC. The purpose of the guidance is to assist coroners in obtaining evidence relating to the use of social media if such information falls within the scope of an inquiry.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published the High Court of Justice summer vacation notice for 2026. The vacation runs from 1 August 2026 until 10 am on 1 October 2026, with the Royal Courts of Justice and Rolls Building closed on 31 August 2026. In August, only urgent applications will be heard, while, in September, appeals and applications to a judge may proceed at judicial discretion under CPR PD 2F. Vacation judge rotas have been published for the Chancery Division, King's Bench Division, Commercial Court, Administrative Court, Family Division, Technology and Construction Court and Companies Court. The Senior Courts Costs Office operates normal business throughout the vacation period.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published a new practice note issued by the London Circuit Commercial Court (LCCC), announcing the creation of a specialist Arbitration Claims List, effective from 1 July 2025. The new list establishes fixed hearing windows across four terms annually and introduces a three-tier categorisation system for judicial allocation. The practice note sets out arrangements for urgent applications and establishes a 42-day target for reserved judgments. The changes aim to expedite the handling of increasing arbitration claims in the LCCC, with hearings to be primarily conducted by full-time Circuit Commercial Judges.

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published a speech by Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, on artificial intelligence (AI) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) at the Irish Law Society Event on 9 October 2024. The speech briefly highlighted the developments into the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act which partially came into force on 1 August 2024 as well as the Council of Europe’s Treaty on AI and human rights, democracy and the rule of law which was opened for signature on 5 September 2024. It also mentioned two problems that have arisen for businesses and individuals using AI including the use of automated decision-making and legal rights to the data that is used to train AI. The speech concludes with a recommendation that governments and global corporations should be careful not to hinder the development of technologies whilst also ensuring human rights are upheld.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published a new Practice Direction on Listing that establishes the first national framework for listing criminal cases across England and Wales. The Practice Direction, which comes into force on 1 October 2026, provides judges with a consistent approach to prioritising cases based on the impact of delay on participants while ensuring fairness in criminal proceedings. It also introduces a judiciary-led, standardised framework for listing Crown Court cases aimed at improving consistency, reducing ineffective trials and supporting more efficient case management. Under the new framework, Crown Court judges must actively monitor cases and ensure trials are listed only when they are, or are expected to be, ready. In addition, each of the 77 Crown Court centres is required to develop and publish a local listing plan in accordance with the national framework to improve transparency, support engagement with the legal profession and ensure listing decisions are based on accurate and up-to-date information.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published the Technology and Construction Court’s (TCC) annual report for the period between 1 October 2022 and 30 September 2023. The report demonstrates that the TCC continues to have a heavy workload, but that the use of case management tools and early disposal procedures has enabled the ‘substantial increase’ of 38% in the number of applications heard.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published the Technology and Construction Court (TCC)’s annual report, covering the period from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024. The report highlights a 7.49% decrease in new claims, with the TCC maintaining a high settlement rate of 80%. Although the number of applications heard decreased by 17.2%, electronic applications processed via the CE-filing system remained high at 2,185. The TCC also saw an increase in complex IT disputes and cases related to flammable cladding and general fire protection issues following the Grenfell Tower fire and Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). There was also an increase in procurement challenges brought under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, SI 2015/102. With the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) now in force, the TCC is collaborating with procurement litigators to develop a new procedural framework. The Judge in Charge of the TCC, Mr Justice Waksman, also announced that a new edition of the TCC guide is expected to be published later this year.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published the Third Amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2023. The changes come into force on 22 July 2024.