27 March 2020
Message from the Lord Chief Justice’s Office
The
guidance and forms have been updated to reflect the Lord Chief Justice’s
announcement on 24 March 2020 that, with effect from Thursday 26 March, all
court business is consolidated in the Royal Courts of Justice, Laganside
Courts, Craigavon, Dungannon and Londonderry Courthouses and only urgent
matters will be addressed by way of a court hearing until further notice.
Of
note is the new guidance that has been published for unrepresented parties
and/or litigants in person (25 March 2020). The guidance for family
proceedings has been updated to include arrangements for Interim Care Orders
(25 March 2020). There have been some changes to the guidance for
criminal proceedings in the Magistrates’ and Youth Courts, notably information
of the scheduled hearing times in Laganside Courts.
Members
of the public and legal representatives are reminded that they should NOT
attend court. The Guidance sets out the processes to be followed but
please note that no correspondence is required to request an adjournment.
Urgent matters will generally be undertaken remotely.
All
guidance is available on the Judiciary NI website: https://judiciaryni.uk/coronavirus-covid-19
27 March 2020