Court display board explained: how to know when your case will be called

What the display board shows

• Court room number — and, on most boards, the judge or bench sitting in it.
• The item number currently being heard in that court room.
• Often a status such as "in session", "lunch", "risen" or "not sitting" for the court room.
• On some High Court boards, the case number being heard alongside the item number.

How to use it with the cause list

1. Find your case in the day's cause list and note the court room and the item number.
2. Check the supplementary list too — a matter added late carries its own item number.
3. Open the display board for that court and find your court room.
4. Compare the current item with yours. Courts move at very different speeds, so watch the pace over a few items before deciding when to walk in.
5. Be in the court room a few items before yours: a matter can be called early if earlier items are adjourned quickly.

Words you will see

• Passed over — the matter was called but taken up later in the day, usually at a party's request; it is called again after the list moves on.
• Not reached — the court rose before calling the item. It is normally carried to the next working day or given a fresh date.
• Court risen — the bench has finished sitting for the day or for a session.
• Fresh matters / regular matters — groups within the list, each with its own run of item numbers.

Following the board without watching it

Refreshing a display board all morning is the kind of task a phone should do. LIBRA's Display Board shows the court room and item number for each of your listed matters the moment the court publishes them, so you can see at a glance which of today's matters are close to being called.

Common questions