In New Zealand, where a criminal appeal can be brought only by leave and this leave is refused, there is no way to apply to the higher court to review this refusal. It is final as per s 213(3) Criminal Procedure Act 2011:
An appeal court’s decision to give or refuse leave for the purposes of this Part is final unless otherwise expressly provided by this Part or any other Act.
Do other common law jurisdictions have this provision of finality of leave refusals, or can they be challenged in higher courts? Are such final refusals decided by a single judge, or do they require a panel of a few judges?
To avoid doubt, this question applies only to leave refusals by courts lower than the top level one i.e. where there is a higher court which could possibly review and overturn the refusal.