Open case (backlog)
A case still waiting for a final result: what people mean by the court “backlog”.
MoJ counts a case as open while any defendant has any offence without a final result. The count is a snapshot of live cases at a date such as 30 June, not receipts minus disposals.
Cases where a defendant has failed to attend and a bench warrant is out are left out until the person is brought back to court.
Official sources
This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official sources above are the authority.
See also
Index · Courts · How a case moves from charge to sentence · All explainers
