Following the Government announcement extending current Level 5 restrictions, we will continue to conduct our courts in a more restricted manner, as follows:
Criminal
Solicitors to advise their clients to only attend Court in the following circumstances:
Election of summary trial
Service of a BOE
Attend a hearing or for sentencing
Hearings which require civil witnesses will all be remanded for the month of February
Hearings which involve state witnesses should proceed
All prisoners should appear via video link for the time being
Juvenile Criminal
Charge sheets and summonses listed on 4th February 2021 at 12.00pm will be dealt with in the circumstances as outlined under the Criminal heading.
Civil
All civil matters listed on 4th February 2021 will be adjourned to 6th May 2021 at 10.30am. An application may be made on 3rd February 2021 by a party requesting a matter to proceed on an urgent basis and the matter will only proceed if the application is successful.
Family
Solicitors to advise their clients to attend at their appointed times, all negotiations and talks to take place prior to the Court date. Only their clients to attend court, no other parties to attend. All domestic violence cases will be heard. Time slots will be assigned being 10.00am for domestic violence cases. 12 noon for custody/access cases and 2pm for maintenance and arrears of maintenance cases.
Childcare
All applications save Section 17 applications to be adjourned to the March Court. In the event the application for the interim care order is unopposed, an Affidavit from the Social worker will suffice. The Special Child Care Court commencing 22nd February 2021 will proceed.