The first of four planned Pilot Central Criminal Listing programs, known as ''mini-blitzes'', formally ended on Friday, after seven weeks churning through a large number of criminal trials.

During the program, an initiative of Chief Justice Helen Murrell, roughly 30 trials started since February, many of which were for sexual offences. There were eight verdicts of guilty, 12 of not guilty and four hung juries, according to data provided by the Supreme Court.

Twenty-four defendants changed their plea, 13 trials were vacated and the prosecution declined to proceed in one matter. Some trials scheduled for the seven-week period are yet to be completed.

The program has also included daily mediation on civil cases, which has, so far, brought about settlements in 56 cases.

While it may have cut through a sizeable chunk of the Supreme Court's notorious backlog, the mini-blitz has not been without criticism.

The intensive listing of trials caused logistical headaches, as sheriff's officers, whose work has been described as exemplary by the ACT Bar Association, juggled a large number of juries between courtrooms, jury rooms and an abandoned court cafe, where some were occasionally housed. At one point, a Supreme Court judge joked that a makeshift courtroom might need to be set up outside.

Bar Association president Greg Stretton, SC, said the costs associated with the listing program could have been better used for a more permanent fix - bringing in a fifth full-time judge.

Mr Stretton expressed concerns about the logistical and technological problems, which hindered the efficient flow of trials.

The Bar had voiced concern that the availability of defence barristers had not been an overriding concern when setting trial dates, something that had forced counsel to return briefs due to scheduling conflicts.

''The bottom line is that efficiency is all very well, but you can't consider it in isolation,'' Mr Stretton said. ''The interests of justice can never come second.''

Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White said the program was a great success and helped accused people, witnesses and victims have their case brought on quickly.

Mr White said his staff were exhausted and juggling the blitz with their continuing commitments in the Magistrates Court had been tough.

''Having said that, there was a backlog to catch up on, and that backlog has now been dealt with, so that's a very positive thing,'' he said.

Mr White said Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker had indicated that hearings in the lower court would not be held at the same time as the upcoming repeats of the Supreme Court's listing program.

Mini-blitzes on Supreme Court trials are again planned for June, August and November but will run over much shorter periods of a month or less.

The Law Society said that, from early impressions, the program appeared to have been a success.