Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 4 January

05 January 2021

Categories: Legal News , In Court , Profession , Covid-19

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated its operational summary on courts and tribunals operations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

LNB News: The summary for the week commencing (w/c) 4 January 2021 includes confirmation that the justice system will continue to operate in Tier 4 areas and that the Crown Court is now hearing all types of applications and cases, including multi-handler trials.

Next data-sf-ec-immutable="" week’s update will be issued on the HMCTS website on Friday 8 January 2021.

All courts and tribunals

New announcements

• following further areas moving into increased coronavirus restrictions from midnight on 31 December 2020, the justice system will remain open as an essential service, including for those in Tier 4 areas

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• public health experts confirm that the current COVID-secure measures will continue to be sufficient with tackling the new coronavirus variant

• HMCTS buildings are not considered to be close contact settings, and existing measures put in in place forming part of the coronavirus risk management arrangements satisfy public health guidelines

• HMCTS advises court users to familiarise themselves with the guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person

• an additional £110m being spent on a range of emergency measures to combat coronavirus-related challenges, including plexiglass installations, Portakabin units and recruiting more staff

• HMCTS Courts and Tribunals Service Centres have updated their operating hours

• guidance on wearing face coverings in court has been published for England, Wales and Scotland

• HMCTS reminds users that they should not go to any court or tribunal if they have coronavirus symptoms, have tested positive for coronavirus or have been instructed to self-isolate by the NHS. Users should contact the court or tribunal before they are due to attend so suitable arrangements can be made. While public health legislation (the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/1045) allows those involved in legal proceedings to come out of self-isolation when necessary, individuals must contact the court or tribunal first to decide appropriate arrangements (see: LNB News 05/10/2020 13)

• the RCJ operational update remains the same

• HMCTS has published Queen’s Bench Masters Listing and Action Department Information for Court Users and Queen’s Bench Division Information for Court Users

• Administrative Court Office guidance has been published

• the Senior Costs Judge has published a Senior Courts Costs Office update

• the RCJ fees office is open to the public between 10 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday (see: LNB News 27/11/2020 57)

• the High Court continues to work according to the High Court Contingency Plan

Criminal courts

New announcements

• the Crown Court is hearing all types of applications and cases. Judges will continue to deal with work remotely where appropriate

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• over 400 courtrooms and jury deliberation rooms have had plexiglass screens installed, with over 260 courtrooms assessed as capable and available to hold jury trials

• magistrates’ courts are now dealing with most business type hearings, and have been completing more cases than have been received since August, with the number of sittings almost at pre-coronavirus levels

• the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has published a note of listing in magistrates’ courts during the coronavirus outbreak

• the Court of Appeal Criminal Division continues to work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Criminal emergency plan

Civil courts

New announcements

• there are no new notable announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• the civil court listing priorities for County Courts remain in force

• the Court of Appeal Civil Division continues to work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Civil urgent business priorities

Family courts

New announcements

• there are no new notable announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• the family court business priorities remain the same

Tribunals

New announcements

• there are no new notable announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has published various updates, user help guides and frequently asked questions documents

This content was first published by Lexis®Library, a LexisNexis® company, on 4 January 2021 and is published with permission. Further information can be found at: www.lexisnexis.com

Source: HMCTS weekly operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Categories: Legal News , In Court , Profession , Covid-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 4 January

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated its operational summary on courts and tribunals operations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Next data-sf-ec-immutable="" week’s update will be issued on the HMCTS website on Friday 8 January 2021.

All courts and tribunals

New announcements

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• public health experts confirm that the current COVID-secure measures will continue to be sufficient with tackling the new coronavirus variant

• HMCTS advises court users to familiarise themselves with the guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person

• an additional £110m being spent on a range of emergency measures to combat coronavirus-related challenges, including plexiglass installations, Portakabin units and recruiting more staff

• HMCTS Courts and Tribunals Service Centres have updated their operating hours

• guidance on wearing face coverings in court has been published for England, Wales and Scotland

• the RCJ operational update remains the same

• HMCTS has published Queen’s Bench Masters Listing and Action Department Information for Court Users and Queen’s Bench Division Information for Court Users

• Administrative Court Office guidance has been published

• the Senior Costs Judge has published a Senior Courts Costs Office update

• the RCJ fees office is open to the public between 10 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday (see: LNB News 27/11/2020 57)

• the High Court continues to work according to the High Court Contingency Plan

Criminal courts

New announcements

• the Crown Court is hearing all types of applications and cases. Judges will continue to deal with work remotely where appropriate

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• over 400 courtrooms and jury deliberation rooms have had plexiglass screens installed, with over 260 courtrooms assessed as capable and available to hold jury trials

• the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has published a note of listing in magistrates’ courts during the coronavirus outbreak

• the Court of Appeal Criminal Division continues to work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Criminal emergency plan

Civil courts

New announcements

• there are no new notable announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• the civil court listing priorities for County Courts remain in force

• the Court of Appeal Civil Division continues to work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Civil urgent business priorities

Family courts

New announcements

• there are no new notable announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• the family court business priorities remain the same

Tribunals

New announcements

• there are no new notable announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 4 January 2021 retains from the previous summaries that:

• the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has published various updates, user help guides and frequently asked questions documents

This content was first published by Lexis®Library, a LexisNexis® company, on 4 January 2021 and is published with permission. Further information can be found at: www.lexisnexis.com

Source: HMCTS weekly operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Categories: , Legal News , In Court , Profession , Covid-19

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 4 January

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr