Covid-19 Court Update – HMCTS

Following new guidance from HMCTS today (26 March 2020), the following rules now apply:

• Jury trials that are underway continue
• No new jury trials
• Crown Courts are only covering urgent work
• Magistrates’ courts only covering urgent work (overnight custody and people brought from prison. We are working closely with partner agencies across the criminal justice system to put in place processes that will enable us to expand the range of work undertaken as soon as we can do so. We will provide further updates once we are in a position to start put these arrangements in place.
• High Court and Court of Appeal are only covering urgent work
• Personal attendance at hearings in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) have been suspended and no cases are being heard today. All parties have been notified and new dates will be communicated once confirmed
• We’ll avoid physical hearings and arranging remote hearings wherever possible
• We’ve introduced social distancing measures in courts and tribunals where physical attendance is necessary
• Staff and judges are continuing in their essential work
• We’re looking at how we prioritise work and deliver essential services over the coming weeks
• The Judicial Office has published further important updates here

For further information from the UK government, operational updates are being held here

Cartwright King is keeping abreast of the situation around COVID-19, and will continue to update as new information comes to light. For more information or guidance, contact us here