Below is a statement from the Lord Chief Justice in respect of the current court arrangements due to the COVID-19 epademic
Events have continued to move at great speed. I indicated during the course of last week that we would keep them under review. As the Prime Minister has been telling the country, the spread of COVID- 19 has continued to accelerate. The clear message from Government is to take all precautions to avoid unnecessary contact. A review of the arrangements in our courts is called for. This short statement comes to judges, and others, to provide some clarity for the coming few days.
We have put in place arrangements to use telephone, video and other technology to continue as many hearings as possible remotely. We will make best possible use of the equipment currently available; HMCTS is working round the clock to update and add to that. Some hearings, the most obvious being jury trials, cannot be conducted remotely.
I have decided that we need to pause jury trials for a short time to enable appropriate precautions to be put in place.
This guidance will be updated, as events develop.
The Lord Burnett of Maldon
Lord Chief Justice