NOTICE #3 TO STAKEHOLDERS, PRACTITIONERS AND PUBLIC COVID-19 LOCKOUT – KATHERINE & DARWIN 8 NOVEMBER 2021.
Katherine
The Katherine Court is open to the public as per normal opening hours. All people attending the Court will be required to use the QR Code. Entry will not be refused to someone who is not vaccinated as the Court is an essential service.
Darwin Lockout
The Darwin Local Court and the Children’s Court are open to the public. All people attending the Court will be required to use the QR Code. Entry will not be refused to someone who is not vaccinated as the Court is an essential service. Stakeholders are reminded of the requirements to wear masks at all times.
Circuit Courts
Circuit Courts out of Darwin will proceed as normal this week; being Wadeye, Lake Evella and Nhulunbuy. The Circuit Court out of Katherine; being Ngukurr, is cancelled and matters will be mentioned on the 9 th and 10th of November at the Katherine Court House. People in Ngukurr who are required to attend Court should contact their lawyer and/or attend the Ngukurr Police Station to find out their Court date. Practitioners are reminded to follow all directions of the Chief Health Officer, including mask wearing, continuing hygiene and check in. All Court staff are fully vaccinated in compliance with the CHO direction for leaving a lockout area for essential workers.
On Country Bail Applications
On country bail applications will continue for all people refused telephone bail by a Local Court Judge in the Top End and Katherine region only until Friday, 12 November 2021. This means that after telephone bail refusal, a defendant will remain in custody at the police station for their first appearance in the nearest Court by phone, or if available video.
However there may be instances where people in custody cannot be accommodated, even for a short period (e.g. major community unrest, large numbers exceeding cell capacity, insufficient staff). The Police Officer facilitating the bail application should bring this to the attention of the on-call Judge, who will have the discretion to authorise transfer to Darwin or Katherine Court. Young people in custody may be dealt with on a case by case basis, with the preferred first option being to remain at the police station. However, it is acknowledged that some police stations may not have the capacity to appropriately keep young people for any length of time. Key Contacts Please note that the Registrars of the various locations will update stakeholders with daily information in relation to staffing and contacts. If there are any issues or you wish to raise a practical matter with the lockout procedure, please see the below contacts:
Darwin Contacts:
Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris: DLC.Chambers [at] nt.gov.au
Principal Registrar & Director (North): Danielle.Hutchison [at] nt.gov.au
Katherine Contact:
Katherine Registrar: Katherine.LocalCourt [at] nt.gov.au
Elizabeth Morris
Chief Judge Northern Territory Local Court
Nichols Place Cnr Cavenagh and Bennett Street
Darwin NT 0800