Judge in charge of Administrative Court issues practice statement amid spike in applications for urgent consideration

Mr Justice Chamberlain notes that such applications are an important part of the work of the Administrative Court, with at least one judge available on every working day to deal with claims and applications accompanied by an application for urgent consideration (“the immediates judge”).

The judge adds that it is important that decisions can be made quickly and efficiently by court staff, lawyers and judges about which claims and applications should be considered urgently and in what order.

Mr Justice Chamberlain stresses that parties seeking urgent consideration must comply strictly with Chapter 17 of the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide (“the Guide”).

“As noted at para. 17.2.4 of the Guide, in cases where there is a genuine need for the application for be considered within 7 days of the date on which it is filed, Form N463 (Judicial Review: Application for Urgent Consideration) should be used,” the practice statement says.

It adds: “As noted in para. 17.3.2 of the Guide, the information requested on Form N463 must be provided on the face of the form and without cross-reference to other documents. This is because Form N463 is used by court lawyers and judges to triage cases, i.e. to decide whether urgent consideration is justified and in what order papers should be considered. It defeats the object of a triage system if the reader has to read voluminous attached documents.”

The practice statement says this section of the Guide reflects the observations of the Divisional Court in DVP v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWHC 606 (Admin), [2021] 4 WLR 75, at [16].

“Accordingly, with effect from 19 October 2026, decisions on whether urgent consideration is justified will be taken using the information on Form N463 alone and without reference to any other document,” it adds.

“If the information contained on Form N463 does not justify urgency, urgent consideration will be refused.”

The practice statement says that applications for urgent consideration should also be accompanied by the documents required by para. 17.4 of the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide, including the Claim Form, supporting documents, relevant correspondence and a draft order, as applicable.

“Applications which are not made in the proper form or with the proper accompanying documents may not be forwarded to the immediates judge.”