No 4 of 2020 - COVID-19 Approved Manner of Court Proceedings
Pursuant to a notice issued by the Attorney General under the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 s 20, the Chief Magistrate has approved the manner in which certain court proceedings may be conducted.
The Chief Magistrate’s determination approves the manner in which the Magistrates Court may conduct proceedings during the pandemic despite specific provisions in the Justices Act 1959 and the Sentencing Act 1997.
The Chief Magistrate’s determination under s 20 (2) (b) of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 is as follows:
- Proceedings in which a justice may sit to hear and determine a complaint upon which a conviction or order may be made, may be heard and determined via any form of audio or audio visual link, and at times will not be heard in an open public court.
- Proceedings for a sentence imposed in the Magistrates Court may be via any form of audio or audio visual link, and at times may not be in open court.
Catherine J Geason
Chief Magistrate
23 April 2020