15 May 2020
Judiciary NI Website - Updated Guidance On Court Operations
The Guidance on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) page
of the Judiciary NI website has been updated and is available to view at the
below link - https://judiciaryni.uk/coronavirus-covid-19
Key Changes To Previous Guidance
· Additional business in the Magistrates’ Courts will be
listed including custody and bail preliminary enquiries, pleas and sentencing
where the parties agree the matter can proceed, and other preliminary issues.
· In addition to the administrative reviews of High Court
cases, administrative reviews of Crown Court cases and Civil Bills are to be
commenced.
· Guidance on the listing of cases before Masters in the High
Court has been updated.
· The types of Children Order proceedings and Matrimonial
Causes cases being dealt with will increase.
· A pilot for the hearing of undefended divorce cases will
commence in Belfast County Court on 26 May 2020.
SPECIFIC GUIDANCE
In addition
to the updated General Guidance for all Courts, specific Guidance has also been
issued / updated in respect of the following areas of Court Business:
v Guidance for Magistrates and Youth
Courts
v Guidance for Crown Court and Criminal
Cases (PACE, POCA etc)
v Guidance for Family Proceedings (All
Tiers)
v Guidance for County Court - Civil
Business
v Guidance for Masters
v Guidance for High Court Reviews
v Guidance for Coroners Courts
There are
also specific instructions on the website in relation to the operation of the
Belfast County Court Pilot for Undefended Divorces starting on Tuesday 26 May
2020.