05 August 2020
Updated OLCJ Guidance - 3rd August 2020
Significant new updated
Guidance has been issued by the Office of the Lord Chief Justice on 3rd
August 2020 (link below).
Incremental recovery of Court business
continues with the re-opening of additional courthouses whilst adhering to
Public Health Agency guidance. A summary of the guidance is set out below
but is no substitute to reading the full document:
·
Most court business will be
conducted remotely and no attendance at court is necessary by the professions
or public unless directed and pre-arranged by the judge.
·
If a substantive hearing is directed
then legal representatives must complete Form HR1 (template downloadable from here) and lodge it four days before the
hearing with the details of who will be involved in the hearing whether remotely
or physically. Only those persons listed in Form HR1 will be permitted to
access the court or remote hearing.
·
If it is the case that a case listed
for substantive hearing is no longer proceeding then representatives should collaboratively
complete Form MCCI1 (https://judiciaryni.uk/sites/judiciary/files/media-files/FORM%20MCCI1%20%20Magistrates%20%20Court%20Business%20Continuity%20Covid%2019%20%2012.5.20.DOC
) or Form CCCI1 (https://judiciaryni.uk/sites/judiciary/files/media-files/FORM%20CCCI1%20County%20Court%20Business%20Continuity%20Covid-19%20V5.0%20Issued%205.6.20.DOC
) as appropriate and lodge four working days in advance of the hearing
date.
·
No hard copy documents can be
accepted. Electronic papers must be provided.
·
Jury trials are to recommence on 17th
August 2020 in Laganside with other Crown venues opening from mid-September
2020.
·
County Court and District Judge
venues and allocated business can be viewed by clicking here
·
Coroners’ business will be listed in
Court 3 Laganside and elsewhere as necessary.
·
Magistrates’ Court business (all
areas) will be extended out of the current hubs. Please click here for full
details.
·
Court lists will be available
on line and will no longer be circulated by the Society.
·
Adjourned cases will return to the
venue allocated for that business area from 3rd August 2020.
·
A review of outstanding Magistrates’
Court contests will take place to increase the business being processed. Please click here to download the notification on Magistrates Court Criminal
review Outstanding Contests.
The full Guidance may be viewed on this link - https://judiciaryni.uk/sites/judiciary/files/media-files/Covid-19%20-%20Update%20-%203%20Aug%2020.pdf