High Court lists

Chancery List

Types of cases

Common types of cases in the Chancery List include injunction applications, company law matters, specific performance or rescission of contracts, administration of estates of deceased persons, trust actions, and Revenue cases stated.

Listing procedures

On Mondays there are three Chancery lists:

1. Chancery List 1: Pre-trial motions in plenary proceedings
2. Chancery List 2: Companies Act matters and Special Summonses other than those listed in the Chancery Special Summons List
3. Chancery Special Summons List: Applications for possession and mortgage suits

Plenary cases must be set down for hearing. A certificate of readiness from senior counsel must be filed (as per High Court Practice Direction HC75). Once this is done, an application can be made for a hearing date at the time and date set out in the table on this page.

Plenary cases must be set down for hearing. A certificate of readiness from senior counsel must be filed (see High Court Practice Direction HC75). Once filed, you can apply for a hearing date at the time and date set out on the In court page.

Non-plenary cases (e.g. special summons, originating notice of motion or petition) that require longer than 20 minutes are listed in the Friday Chancery list to assign a hearing date once ready for hearing.

Weekly callover

All cases listed for hearing on Tuesday to Friday each week are called over at 10:30am on the Thursday of the preceding week. If there is no attendance, the hearing date is vacated.

Back to top

Non-jury list

Types of cases

Actions such as breach of contract actions, negligence actions (other than personal injuries and medical negligence claims), and claims for debt; Statutory Appeals and miscellaneous civil actions; cases stated from the District Court; and Dublin Circuit Appeals.

In addition, motions for summary judgment in debt claims and other notices of motion that are too lengthy for hearing in the Common Law List are transferred to the Non-Jury List for hearing.

Listing procedures

Plenary actions: The case is set down for hearing. A certificate of readiness must then be filed in the Central Office. Once this is done, an application can be made for a hearing date at the time and date set out below.

Statutory Appeals, Miscellaneous Civil Actions: When the originating Notice of Motion is filed in the Central Office, the motion is listed for directions on a Monday in the Non-Jury List. The motion may be adjourned from time to time until it is ready for hearing, at which point a date is assigned.

Cases stated: When the case stated is received by the Central Office, it is listed for mention in the Non-Jury List on a Monday for directions and to be assigned a hearing date. The case may be adjourned until it is ready for a hearing date.

Motions transferred from the Common Law List: Including motions for summary judgment, these are listed for mention on the following Thursday in the Non-Jury List to be assigned a date for hearing.

Weekly callover

All actions, motions and other matters listed for hearing in the Non-Jury List from Tuesday to Friday each week are called over at 10.00 a.m. on the Thursday of the preceding week to confirm that the hearing is going ahead. The hearing date is vacated if there is no attendance at the Thursday callover.

Sittings of the Non-Jury List are held in Cork on three occasions each year. Non-Jury sittings may also be scheduled from time to time at other venues outside Dublin. Applications may be made on any Thursday morning in the Non-Jury List to transfer a motion or action for hearing to the Cork Non-Jury sittings. Cases longer than 3 days are not suitable for inclusion in this list.

Applications for Digital Audio Recording Transcripts

Effective from 26 May 2025, any party making an application in the Non-Jury and Judicial Review List for digital audio recordings of District and Circuit Court proceedings must complete the Non-Jury List DAR Transcript Request Form . Completed forms should be sent to [email protected].

Back to top

Dublin Personal Injury/ Clinical Negligence/ Minor and Fatal Rulings Lists

Types of cases

All Dublin Personal Injury Actions, Clinical Negligence and Minor and Fatal Rulings.

Listing procedures

Once set down, a PI List numbers is assigned to the venue.

Dublin Personal Injuries List

Dates are allocated to the parties by sending an email to [email protected] for a hearing date. (Please provide letter of consent from both sides where possible).

Personal Injuries lists outside Dublin
In advance of each provincial sitting, a hybrid call over will take place to allocate hearing dates for cases at the next sessions. Please see High Court Provincial sittings for each venue.

Back to top

Judicial review list

Types of cases

Challenges to the decision-making processes of administrative bodies and lower courts.

Listing procedures

An application for leave to apply for judicial review is the first stage of judicial review and is made ex parte on a Monday (as per the General Notice of 2 December 2019). Where an order is made granting the applicant leave to apply for judicial review, an originating Notice of Motion must be filed in the Central Office. After the first return date in the Judicial Review list, the Motion may be listed from time to time for directions until it is ready for hearing. A hearing date will then be allocated.

Weekly callover

All cases listed for hearing on Tuesday to Friday each week are called over at 10.00 a.m. on the Thursday of the preceding week to confirm the case is going ahead. The hearing date is vacated if there is no attendance at the Thursday callover.

The rules governing Judicial Review are contained in Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts.

Back to top

Family law list

Types of cases

All Family Law Actions. This includes Circuit Appeals from the Dublin Circuit Court and appeals from the Circuit Court outside Dublin.

Listing procedures

There is a Motion list every Monday. Special summonses in family law matters are transferred to the Judge's List from the Master's list. Nullity Petitions are set down for hearing when ready. Special summonses and petitions are assigned hearing dates on a Monday of each term designated as a List to Fix Dates for the next legal term. All cases listed for hearing on Tuesday to Friday are listed on the Monday of that week to confirm the case is going ahead.

Back to top

Jury list

Types of cases

Libel, defamation, assault.

Listing procedures

The case is set down for hearing. After this, the case goes into a ‘list to fix dates’. This list is heard at the end of one legal term and assigns cases for hearing in the next legal term. Cases not assigned dates are put into the next list to fix dates held towards the end of the following term.

See a list of these dates on our Terms and Sittings page.

Back to top

Circuit appeals list

Types of cases

The following appeals from the Circuit Court are heard by the High Court sitting in Dublin:

1. All appeals from the Dublin Circuit Court
2. Appeals from the Circuit Court outside Dublin where there was no oral evidence at the hearing

Listing procedures

When the notice of appeal is filed, the appeal is listed for mention in the Non-Jury List for the purpose of allocating a hearing date.

Weekly callover

All Circuit Appeals listed for hearing in the Non-Jury List on Tuesday to Friday of each week are called over at 10.00 a.m. on the Thursday of the preceding week to confirm the case is going ahead. The hearing date is vacated if there is no attendance at the Thursday callover.

Circuit appeals heard outside of Dublin

Appeals from the Circuit Court outside Dublin where there was oral evidence at the Circuit Court hearing are heard outside Dublin. Details of hearing venues are listed in the High Court terms and sittings throughout the year. The relevant Circuit Court office can be contacted for further information.

The rules governing Circuit Court Appeals to the High Court are set out in Order 61 of the Rules of the Superior Courts. The Notice of Appeal form is contained in Appendix I of the Rules of the Superior Courts.

Back to top

Asylum list

This list deals with judicial reviews concerning refugee and asylum status (including injunctions preventing deportation) and Article 40 applications where detention arises from refugee/asylum status.

Related rules & practice directions

• High Court Practice Direction HC81 (Asylum, Immigration and Citizenship List)
• General Notice of 20 February 2020 (Legal Diary)

Back to top

Master’s list

The Master of the High Court is allocated powers to hear matters pursuant to legislation and the Rules of the Superior Courts Order 63 sets out many of these powers. The Master sits Tuesday to Friday

Back to top

Common law list

Types of cases and motions

On a Monday there are four Common Law Lists:

• Motions for the sitting of the Court and garnishee motions
• Motions on notice in Summary and Plenary proceedings (Lists 2, 3 & 4)

Practice directions

Practitioners should read Practice Directions HC48 and HC84. Any Motion likely to exceed fifteen minutes can, on request, be transferred to the Thursday Non-Jury List for mention to obtain a date for hearing.

Applications on consent

Applications on consent (except Motions listed for the sitting of the Court) are dealt with at 10.30 a.m. by the Registrar in the Court to which the lists are assigned.

Discovery motions

Where an Order for discovery is made, it is the responsibility of the moving party to provide to the Registrar the name of the deponent to swear the affidavit of discovery. A Word version of the Motion on which the Order for discovery was granted must be emailed to the Registrar sitting in the relevant list.

Back to top

Other lists

Bail – Appeals from the refusal of bail, variations to bail, and bail in matters where the Central Criminal Court has jurisdiction. The list is dealt with in Cloverhill Prison.

Bankruptcy – Applications to adjourn petitions on consent and applications for new return dates for petitions will be dealt with at 10.45 a.m. by the Registrar in the Court to which the list is assigned.

Common Law Ex Parte – Applications for substituted service, renewal of summonses once they are out of time, and liberty to serve out of the jurisdiction.

Examiners – Applications arising from the Examiners Office list where a Court Order is required.

Extradition – The list is held every Monday in the Courts of Criminal Justice.

Garda Compensation Special Summonses – The summons remains dormant until the plaintiff's solicitor and the Chief State Solicitor agree that the case is ready to go on. At this point, the plaintiff can apply on any Monday to the list for a date.

Hague Luxembourg Convention (child abduction) – The list takes place at 10.00 a.m. each Wednesday.

Judicial Review Ex Parte – Applications for leave to apply for Judicial Review (as per High Court Practice Direction HC02 and the General Notice of 2 December 2019) are made at 11.30 a.m. on Mondays. The original statement and grounding affidavit should be filed in the Central Office and a certified copy, bearing the record number issued by the Central Office, must be lodged by 11.00 a.m. A copy of the statement of grounds should also be emailed to the Registrar.

Probate – Applications issue in the Probate Office. All applications (on notice at the Sitting of the Court, on notice or ex parte) made on a Monday must be notified to the Probate Office in advance.

Restrictions of Directors – Applications to restrict or strike off company directors are held monthly on a Monday at 2.00 p.m.

Solicitors, Nurses, Dental Council, Medical Council – Heard before the President on a Monday at 2.00 p.m. Papers must be lodged in the Central Office by the prior Wednesday before 4.30 p.m.

Back to top

Lists outside Dublin

Non-jury and Chancery actions can be heard in Cork. To have a case included, apply to the Registrar in charge of the Non-jury or Chancery list where the parties consent. Where consent is not forthcoming, make an application on any Thursday morning in the relevant list on notice to the other side. Cases longer than three days are not suitable.

Back to top

Bail

Overview

Bail is release from custody based on a bond or promise made by you, or by you and a surety, guaranteeing your appearance in court. If bail is granted, the court may set conditions, including a payment into court. At least one-third of any amount set must be paid before release.

Surety

An independent surety guarantees your appearance. The surety must attend the court office with photographic ID and an up-to-date statement from a financial institution showing sufficient funds (not a joint account).

Types of bail

• Station bail: Set by the member in charge at a Garda station; you must enter into a bond to appear before the District Court on a specific date.
• District Court bail: Set by a District Court judge on first appearance.
• Appeal bail: For appeals to the Circuit Court. Once the bond is signed, you are released pending the appeal.
• Sent forward for trial bail: New bail may be set when a case is sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court or Central Criminal Court.
• High Court bail: Required for certain serious offences where the District Court has no power to grant bail.

Appeals and variations

If the District Court refuses bail (see section 2, Bail Act 1997), you may appeal to the High Court. You may also apply to vary conditions or the amount set.

Related rules & practice directions

• High Court Practice Direction HC63 (Bail applications – Cloverhill Courthouse)
• High Court Practice Direction HC61 (Notice of motion – persons in custody)
• Rules of the Superior Courts, Order 84

Refund of bail

Bail (and surety) is refunded after final orders are made in all attached cases and all conditions are met. Refunds are processed by the Courts Accounts Office on instruction from the relevant court office. Payment is by cheque posted to the address on the bond; notify the office if your address changes.

Breach of bail conditions

If conditions are breached, a bench warrant may issue and you may be arrested. In High Court bail matters, an application is made to the High Court for a warrant and, once arrested, you must be brought before the High Court as soon as practicable for a revocation hearing. The court may order forfeiture and estreatment of bail monies. You (and/or your surety) may apply to vary/discharge estreatment in the District Court and appeal to the Circuit Court.

Relevant legislation

• Offences Against the State Act, 1939
• Official Secrets Act, 1963
• Criminal Procedure Act, 1967
• Criminal Justice Act, 1984
• Bail Act, 1997
• Criminal Justice Act, 2006
• Criminal Justice Act, 2007
• Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009

Forms

• Form 18.1 District Court Rules – Bail recognisance (DOCX)
• Form 18.2 District Court Rules – Bail recognisance (on execution of warrant) (DOCX)
• Form 18.2A District Court Rules – Bail recognisance (DOCX)
• Form 18.2B District Court Rules – Bail recognisance (DOCX)
• Form 18.3 District Court Rules – Bail recognisance (on sending forward) (DOCX)
• Form 18.4 District Court Rules – Bail recognisance (on appeal) (DOCX)
• Form 27.7 District Court Rules – Notice of application for warrant of execution (DOCX)
• Form 27.10 District Court Rules – Application to vary/discharge order (DOCX)

More information

For information on bail in the District Court, see What is bail and how does it work?

Back to top