Positive verdict handed down for state's criminal appeals overhaul

Court of Appeal president Chris Maxwell. Photo: James Davies A radical revamp of Victoria's criminal appeals procedures has resulted in a 73 per cent drop in the number of cases being heard by the state's highest court, figures show. The reforms were introduced in early 2011 to help reduce the growing backlog of criminal cases, which peaked at 679 in January 2010. By the end of last month, there were only 180 criminal appeals pending, prompting Court of Appeal president Chris Maxwell...