R (on the application of Leask) v South Western Magistrates Court [2007] EWHC 1233 (Admin), [2007] All ER (D) 142 (May)
The court had to consider an extension of the time limit for submission of a bill of costs under the Costs in Criminal Cases (General) Regulations 1986, reg 12(2).
It was held that two separate aspects have to be considered: (i) whether the failure to comply with a time limit was without good reason or whether a good reason existed; and (ii) whether or not exceptional circumstances existed which would justify the extension of the time limit.
The fact that there was no good reason, or that the reason for failure was not a good one, does not preclude there being exceptional circumstances; each aspect has to be considered separately.
