The Northern Territory Supreme Court just overturned a decades-old rule, giving defendants denied legal aid due to funding shortages the right to have their cases adjourned indefinitely. This landmark decision stems from a bitter funding dispute between Legal Aid NT and the NT government, which led to a self-imposed cap on new clients and left many facing serious charges without representation. The ruling reaffirms the right to a fair trial — previously upheld by the High Court in 1992 — and now applies to Local Court proceedings. Defendants must now formally request adjournments to ensure their cases aren’t decided unfairly. This shift brings much-needed clarity and could impact hundreds of pending cases, reigniting the debate over justice delayed versus justice denied.
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