Updates to the operation of courts and tribunals
Local Court
The Chief Magistrate has issued the attached
memo in accordance with Section 7(1) of the Court Security Act 2005. Members of the public who do not have a legitimate reason associated with a particular matter listed before the Local Court of New South Wales or in relation to the exercise of the jurisdiction of the Local Court will not be admitted to Local Court premises or part of Local Court premises. Specific guidance is given for defendants facing sentences, persons in need of protection in relation to domestic or personal violence, and defendants experiencing a mental health cognitive impairment condition. The order will remain in effect for 14 days and may be extended if the circumstances in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to make it necessary to secure order and safety within court premises. The Court has also announced that all hearings listed in the Sydney metropolitan courts during the lockdown period will not proceed. Read the memo
here.
District Court
The changes in the arrangements published on Friday 25th June 2021 for the sittings of the District Court at the Downing Centre and John Maddison Tower are extended to the 9th July 2021 and now apply to the sittings of the District Court at: Campbelltown, Gosford, Katoomba, Parramatta, Penrith and Wollongong. For the most up-to-date arrangements, visit the District Court
website.
Accordingly, no new Jury Trials will commence at these venues for the next two weeks. Current Jury Trials will resume at the Downing Centre tomorrow, Tuesday 29 June 2021. Current and new Judge Alone Trials (JAT) can commence in these venues. Legal argument and short matters will be heard. Lawyers are encouraged to use, where possible, virtual court room technology. The four square metre rule and the mandatory wearing of face masks apply to all sittings of the District Court of New South Wales.
Children’s Court
The President of the Children’s Court has issued the attached
order detailing alterations to listing arrangements for the Children’s Court while
Public Health (COVID-19) Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 is in force. Please be advised that further amendments may be required to this Notice over the coming days.
Supreme Court
From Monday 28 June to Friday 9 July: All matters will be conducted via AVL. No live appearances will be permitted. No new criminal trials will commence. Current criminal trials will continue. The public counter will close from Monday 28 June to Friday 9 July and filings will be via online registry or email. For other changes to registry administrative arrangements, check
here.
Family and Federal Court
The Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia have each established a
court list dedicated to dealing exclusively with urgent family law disputes that have arisen as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the Sydney lockdown, there will be no face-to-face services inside Queens Square (Federal Court), Sydney Lionel Bowen (Family Court & Federal Circuit Court) and Sydney William Street (Federal Court). The court is still open to support litigants and the profession through a range of online and phone services. More information
here.
NCAT President’s message
There will be no in-person hearings from Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July at Sydney CBD, Liverpool, Penrith and Parramatta Registries. Matters will proceed by audio visual link (AVL) or telephone if possible. If you have not already been contacted by the registry about your in-person matter on those days please contact the registry on 1300 006 228. There will be no in-person registry counter service in Sydney CBD, Liverpool, Penrith and Parramatta on those days. Please make contact by phone or email. More information
here.
Personal Injury Commission
Medical assessments currently scheduled to take place in Sydney between Monday 28 June – Friday 2 July will either be rescheduled or proceed via videoconference. Assessments scheduled for the Sydney metropolitan region will be moved to videoconference where agreed to by the parties and assessors or alternatively be rescheduled for the next available time. Assessments where both the injured party AND the Medical assessor are located in a regional or rural area and have not been in the greater Sydney area since 11 June 2021, may proceed as arranged. The Commission team will be in touch with all impacted parties to manage the appointments on a case-by-case basis. Medical appointments currently scheduled for the week commencing 5 July 2021 and ongoing (after the stay-at-home orders conclude) will proceed at this stage. Please note that the Commission’s office at 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst will be closed Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July, with all staff working remotely and our reception unmanned. Any parties who require assistance should contact their case manager via the appropriate channels or call 1800 PIC NSW.
Legal Aid offices closed
All of Legal Aid’s offices are now closed to the public. All phone lines remain operational. For more information call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 or visit
here.
