The NSW Bail Division Court 1 court list is the daily law list for one of the region-based virtual courtrooms operated by the Bail Division of the Local Court of New South Wales. This page tracks the fresh custody and bail matters scheduled before Bail Division Court 1, refreshed each sitting day so parties, families, support workers and legal practitioners can confirm a matter time and prepare before proceedings begin. Under the Local Court's November 2025 Bail Division Information Guide, Courtroom 1 was allocated to matters arising from the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions, giving this list a clear geographic focus within the wider statewide bail system.
If a bail refusal is later contested or a matter proceeds beyond first custody, it usually returns to the ordinary courthouse for the person's home region rather than staying in the virtual bail system. In the Mid North Coast, serious indictable charges and appeals from the Local Court are heard at the Port Macquarie District Court and the Coffs Harbour District Court. Committal and sentence work for the Northern Rivers moves to the Lismore District Court list once a matter leaves the Local Court.
The Bail Division was established by the Chief Judge of the Local Court (formerly the Chief Magistrate) to centralise adult bail proceedings that were previously handled across dozens of separate courthouses and Registrar-run lists. It commenced on 7 July 2025 and now manages first-instance bail matters seven days a week, initially across regional New South Wales and select Sydney locations on weekdays, and across the whole state on weekends. Court 1 sits within that framework as a dedicated virtual room, so its daily schedule reflects readiness of matters rather than a fixed physical courthouse.
What Matters Appear on the Bail Division Court 1 Daily Law List
The Bail Division Court 1 law list is limited to three categories of adult fresh custody matter. Every other type of criminal, traffic or civil case continues to be dealt with through the ordinary Local Court lists at each courthouse. The matters heard in Court 1 are:
- Police bail refusals: where police decline to grant bail after charging a person, and that refusal is reviewed by the court, usually within 24 hours.
- Executed arrest warrants: where a warrant has been acted on and has led to an arrest and a person entering custody.
- Detention applications: requests to keep a person in custody or to release them, often connected to an alleged breach of bail conditions.
Because the list is restricted in this way, a name appearing on the Court 1 schedule almost always signals a first bail decision following a fresh arrest, rather than a mention, plea or defended hearing. If a matter does not fall into one of these categories, it will be found on the relevant local courthouse list instead.
How the Bail Division Court 1 Hearings Work
All Bail Division matters, including those in Court 1, are heard virtually. Defendants, legal representatives, police prosecutors, family members and support agencies join by Audio Visual Link (AVL) using the Webex platform. Participants can connect through a standard web browser without installing software, or through the Webex mobile or desktop app. Defendants generally appear from a police station or correctional facility by video link rather than attending a courtroom in person.
Court 1 begins sitting from 9:30am. Timing of an individual matter depends on when a defendant is arrested and processed. A person arrested and processed before 12:00pm is eligible for a Bail Division hearing on the same day, while anyone arrested or processed after that cut-off is generally listed the following day. Matters are usually heard in order of readiness, and the presiding judicial officer may reassign a matter to another Bail Division courtroom during the day to keep cases moving efficiently, so a listing can shift between rooms.
Courtroom Etiquette and Recording Rules
Anyone joining a Bail Division hearing is expected to follow the same standards as an in-person courtroom. That means being in a quiet, private space, dressing appropriately and using respectful language. Recording proceedings matters here: it is an offence to take photographs or make audio or video recordings during court proceedings under the Court Security Act 2005. Observers should join, listen and refrain from capturing any part of the session.
Why the NSW Bail Division Was Created
The Bail Division responds to sustained pressure on the New South Wales court and custody system. The Local Court is the busiest jurisdiction in the country and makes more than 90 per cent of all judicial decisions in the state. In 2024 it received over 388,000 new criminal matters, a rise of about 34 per cent since 2014, along with more than 67,800 civil matters commenced. Centralising bail into dedicated virtual rooms was designed to bring consistency to bail outcomes, free ordinary courtrooms for other judicial work, ease workload on judicial officers, and build specialisation in bail decision-making.
Bail volume sits at the heart of that pressure. Figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show the adult remand population reached a record 6,650 in March 2026, while the total adult prison population climbed to 14,070, the highest on record. People held on remand, meaning those in custody awaiting the outcome of their matter, made up around 46 per cent of the adult prison population in late 2025, the largest share ever recorded. A more efficient, centralised bail process is one part of the system's response to that growth.
NSW Bail and Remand Figures at a Glance
- Record adult remand population of 6,650 in March 2026 (BOCSAR).
- Total adults in NSW prisons reached 14,070 in March 2026, the highest on record.
- People on remand made up roughly 46 per cent of the adult prison population in late 2025.
- In 2023, about 53.5 per cent of adults refused bail by police were later granted bail at their first court bail hearing (BOCSAR), which underlines why the review stage handled by the Bail Division matters.
- The police bail refusal rate sat around 40.8 per cent in the December 2024 quarter.
- BOCSAR reported an average remand stay of about 90 days in late 2023.
- Remand carried an estimated daily cost of $286.89 per person (Corrective Services NSW, 2023), which BOCSAR calculated at more than $1.6 million a day statewide.
How to Check a Bail Division Court 1 Listing
Beyond this daily overview, you can confirm official listing details through the NSW Online Registry, which allows searches by case number, name, date and listing type. Because Bail Division matters move quickly and can be reassigned between courtrooms during the day, it is sensible to verify a matter close to the sitting time. Families and support people who are unsure which courtroom a person is listed in, or when they will appear on screen, can contact the Bail Division Registry or the Court Service Centre for assistance.
Public, Media and Family Access
The Bail Division operates as a virtual court but remains open to the public, except where a suppression or non-publication order applies or the presiding judicial officer directs otherwise. Members of the public and community support agencies can request dial-in details from the Bail Division Registry, and media can seek access through the Local Court media unit. Family members and friends who lack internet access, a device or a quiet space can contact or attend their nearest local court, which may be able to help them join the virtual session or access a remote witness room, subject to availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which region does Bail Division Court 1 cover?
Under the Local Court's November 2025 Bail Division Information Guide, Courtroom 1 was allocated to the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions. Allocations can be adjusted on the day to manage workload, so always confirm the current listing before relying on it.
What time does Bail Division Court 1 start?
The Bail Division commences sitting from 9:30am. Individual matters are then heard in order of readiness, so a listed time is a guide rather than a fixed appointment.
Can I attend a Bail Division Court 1 hearing in person?
No. Hearings are conducted virtually by Audio Visual Link through Webex. You cannot attend in person, but you can observe online by requesting access details from the Bail Division Registry, and your local court may be able to assist if you do not have a suitable device or space.
Why would someone be listed in the Bail Division rather than a local courthouse?
The Bail Division only handles police bail refusals, executed arrest warrants and detention applications for adults in fresh custody. These first-instance bail matters are centralised into region-based virtual courtrooms like Court 1, while mentions, pleas, defended hearings and civil matters continue at the ordinary Local Court.
Court 1 is one of several region-based virtual rooms, so a person from another part of the state may be listed elsewhere in the same system. Other courtrooms handle fresh custody matters from different regions on the same seven-day roster, and a listing can be reassigned between rooms during the day. If you cannot find a name on this schedule, check the Bail Division Court 2 list or confirm the current allocation through the Bail Division Registry before the sitting begins.