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Applications to Supreme Court up 14% last year

The Supreme Court resolved 183 applications for leave to appeal filed with the court last year, according to its annual report.\

This represented an increase of 14% compared with 2023.

In 2024, the court granted leave in relation to 49 applications (27%), while 123 (67%) were refused leave. The 11 remaining applications were withdrawn before determination.

One-third of applications for leave to appeal determined last year were ‘leapfrog’ appeals from the High Court. The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal in 56 (34%) of these cases.

‘No structural backlog’

Writing in the report, registrar John Mahon said that, by the end of the year, litigants granted leave to appeal could expect a hearing within 23 weeks.

“On that basis, the court has no structural backlog of appeals awaiting a hearing date,” he stated.

The average waiting time from the filing of complete documents to a Supreme Court determination on an application was 2.75 weeks – down from 4.5 weeks in 2023.

As was the case in the three previous years, procedural issues gave rise to the highest number of determinations in 2024 (19% of applications).

These mainly involved applications for an extension of time to appeal or general aspects of civil procedure.

Criminal law tops list

The area of substantive law that gave rise to the highest number of applications for leave to appeal determined in 2024 was criminal law (11%), followed by judicial review linked to immigration (10%).

During the year, the court made four requests to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling.

Last year, the court decided to carry out a pilot project to record and broadcast the oral argument in substantive appeals before the Supreme Court.

Broadcast pilot

Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell said that the initiative was aimed at enhancing access to court proceedings and informing the public about cases of public importance.

“Preparations are underway by a working group, led by Mr Justice Brian Murray, and it is hoped that the pilot will begin in 2025,” he added.

In October, the court also issued a new protocol seeking to explain the process of producing a judgment of the Supreme Court and giving guidance on what can be expected when the court reserves judgment at the conclusion of the hearing of an appeal.