There have been a number of changes to court process during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read further to learn about the timeline to reintroducing core court functions.
The NT Local Court is taking measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and will delay many criminal hearings scheduled to take place until June 2020.
Non-custodial hearings will be vacated and listed for Case Management Inquiry (CMI).
NT Local Court has undergone changes to some procedures in light of COVID-19.
Explanations of these changes are increasingly being translated into various Aboriginal languages and many can now be played on this website or downloaded by interested parties.
All NT Courts have placed signage at entrances encouraging people not to enter, and make alternative arrangements if they meet any of the widely acknowledged screening criteria.
The Courts will be acting in accordance with advice from Government health authorities to ensure consistency among public institutions to avoid confusion and unnecessary disruption.
Different courts have been taking different measures, depending on the specialist needs separate areas may have.
UPDATE May 13,2020: NT Courts have begun easing some restrictions.
NT Courts and Tribunals are moving to help protect the safety and well-being of the public and staff in response to concerns about the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
To assist with these efforts physical access to the Local Court registries will only be by appointment until further notice.
MARCH 18: A meeting of Judges, lawyers and others who regularly use the NT Local Court has determined to take measures to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 virus.
All initiatives involved steps to reduce the movement of people around the NT who are involved with court matters.
In light of the developing COVID-19 situation and the unique risks posed by the breadth of the NT Local Court’s circuit footprint, the Local Court will be suspending all circuit court services effective immediately. At this stage they will resume on 1 May 2020 as per the current court calendars, and additional days may be required.
The Courts will be acting in accordance with advice from Government health authorities to ensure consistency among public institutions to avoid confusion and unnecessary disruption from the Covid-19 virus.
On 2 December 2019 all Northern Territory Courts will have a new civil case management system called ‘Odyssey’. Odyssey was successfully implemented at the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) in December 2017 and the Court civil implementation is another step on the road to the Northern Territory being the first completely digital jurisdiction in Australia.