January 26, 2012

Almost 10,000 Cases at the Federal Court . . .

In the last calendar year, the number of leave applications filed  at the Federal court numbered 9,842.  Over 2000 more than the year before and the highest totals since  2003 and 2004.  One of the by products of frequent legislative immigration amendments is the need for jurisprudential interpretation.  Given the number of immigration related amendments passed in the last few years, those awaiting  implementation and those on the horizon this trend is unlikely to change.  Not coincidentally in 2003 and 2004 when leave cases totaled more than 10,000 per year followed the passage of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2002.