Supreme Court of the Northern Territory - Notice #3
NOTICE #3 TO PRACTITIONERS, LITIGANTS
AND THE VISITING PUBLIC-COVID-19
25 MARCH 2020
- The Supreme Court has as a precautionary measure suspended all new trials requiring a jury until 5 June 2020.
- This decision has become necessary as a consequence of the restrictions imposed by the Federal and Territory Governments.
- Current trials where a jury has already been selected and empanelled will continue.
- This suspension has no bearing on matters which have been listed for the prerecording of evidence or voir dire hearings which do not require the selection and empanelment of a jury. Those matters will proceed as presently listed.
- In taking this step the Court is conscious of the impact this action will have on the administration of justice. Jury trials will resume as soon as practicable, in a manner consistent with the health and safety of the public.
- For matters which are currently listed for trial by jury in the period up to 5 June 2020, the Presiding Judge’s Associate will make arrangements with the parties for the conduct of a pre-trial hearing to deal with matters relating to:
- the vacation of the existing dates and referral to the criminal call overs on 4 June 2020 (for Darwin matters) or 10 June 2020 (for Alice Springs matters);
- programming orders;
- the hearing of legal issues that can be addressed prior to trial; and custody and bail.
- The procedures advised for the conduct of pre-trial hearings by Notice #2 issued on 20 March 2020 will apply to those hearings.
- A decision will be made one month prior to 5 June 2020 to determine whether it is necessary for the suspension to continue after date.
Notice #1
Notice #2
Notice #4
Notice #5
Notice #6