Rule 31 Issue of witness summons and variation of requirements
The judge advocate may issue or withdraw a witness summons with or without a hearing.
A hearing under this Part must be in private unless the judge advocate otherwise directs.
The judge advocate may—
shorten or extend (even after it has expired) a time limit under this Part; and
where a rule or direction requires an application under this Part to be in writing, allow that application to be made orally instead.
Someone who wants the judge advocate to allow an application to be made orally under paragraph (3)(b) must—
give as much notice as the urgency of his application permits to those on whom he would otherwise have served an application in writing; and
in doing so explain the reasons for the application and for wanting the judge advocate to consider it orally.