Christchurch courts facing huge backlog

Christchurch's court system is facing a backlog of around five thousand cases as a result of the earthquake.

The Ministry of Justice, judges and MPs met yesterday to discuss getting the courts back up and running by April 17, nearly two months since February's quake.

Canterbury Law Society President Allister Davis said a number of innovative ways of getting through the backlog were talked about.

He said they include longer court days, starting at 8.30am, and night court sessions.

Mr Davis said a lot of witnesses and clientele have been displaced so it will take some time to inform them of new court dates.

- Newstalk ZB