Local Court update in relation to COVID-19 lockdown

In relation to the lockdown announcement made by the Chief Minister today, the Local Court can confirm the following arrangements.

Alice Springs and Tennant Creek: no change

Katherine:

•  The courts will be closed from 1.00pm Monday, and remain closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at this stage to reopen on Friday morning.
• In Chambers orders will be made for all matters currently listed for those days. Non-contested matters (plea/mention/PEM/Directions Hearings etc) will be adjourned for seven days. All bail will be continued on the same terms and conditions.
• Those previously in custody will be remanded for the seven days. Counsel do not have to appear in these matters, as the orders will be made in chambers. However for custody matters only, should defence counsel wish to have the matter heard before the seven days, an email request to relist should be sent for adults and youth court matters to Katherine.LocalCourt [at] nt.gov.au
• Contested matters will be adjourned to a Directions Hearing list within 14 days  to be allocated a new hearing date.
• One Judge will be presiding by AVL with first mention custody matters.
• The Darwin Childrens Court Judge will hear any urgent care and protection applications  – which will be by AVL.
• All counsel, prosecutors and defence have leave to appear via AVL.
• People in custody will appear from the prison or the Watchhouse. No defendants should be brought to the Court house.
• Urgent domestic violence orders will be dealt with by the Judge by AVL. Applicants and Defendants may appear via telephone, counsel by AVL or telephone.
• There will be only a skeleton staff at the court house. Further details will be provided by Matt Fawkner as to how to provide your contact details for any AVL link.
• A notice will be placed on the court house doors advising anyone who turns up of the above arrangements. We will also include contact numbers for the legal aid services.

Darwin

• Both courts (Nichols Place and TCG) will be closed from 1pm Monday and continue to be closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at this stage to reopen on Friday morning.
• In Chambers orders will be made for all matters currently listed for those days. Non-contested matters (plea/mention/PEM/Directions Hearings etc)  will be adjourned for seven days, all bail will be continued on the same terms and conditions.
• Those previously in custody will be remanded for the seven days. Counsel do not have to appear in these matters, as the orders will be made in chambers. However for custody matters only, should defence counsel wish to have the matter heard before the seven days, an email request to relist should be sent for adults to dlc.operations [at] nt.gov.au or Darwin.ChildrensCourt [at] nt.gov.au for youth court matters.
• Contested matters will be adjourned to a Directions Hearing list within 14 days (either Monday – for NAAJA matters, or Friday – for NTLAC and private counsel matters) to be allocated a new hearing date.
• One judge will be presiding at Nichols Place to deal with first mention custody matters. The other judges not currently on leave will be working from home and available to do the usual telephone bail applications.
• One judge will manage the TCG Childrens court for any custody matters or urgent care and protection applications  (Judge Armitage) – who will be by AVL.
• All counsel, prosecutors and defence, have leave to appear via AVL.
• People in custody will appear from the prison (or as a last resort – the watchhouse). No defendants should be brought to the court house.
• Urgent domestic violence orders will be dealt with in Court One. Applicants and defendants may appear via telephone, counsel by AVL or telephone.
• There will be only a skeleton staff at the court ouse. Further details will be provided by Danielle Hutchison as to how to provide your contact details for any AVL link.
• A notice will be placed on the court house doors advising anyone who turns up of the above arrangements. We will also include contact numbers for the legal aid services.
• The judicial registrar will liaise with parties and counsel regarding civil matters. Counsel can contact dlc.civilregistry [at] nt.gov.au with any queries.

Circuit Courts out of Darwin and Katherine:

• All Circuit Courts out of Darwin and Katherine this week (Alyangula, Galiwinku, Nhulunbuy and Mataranka) are cancelled. Chambers orders will be made adjourning all matters to the next sittings. Any Defendants in custody will have a mention date within 14 days.

Police Telephone Bail reviews and applications

• Judge Huntingford is the on call Judge for after hours bail reviews and applications for the week coming. Normal arrangements continue for telephone bail applications during working hours. That is, ring one of the Chambers, provide details and your call will be returned by one of the available Judges.