LOCAL COURT OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY NOTICE TO LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, POLICE, CORRECTIONS, TERRITORY FAMILIES and COURT USERS REGARDING ALL CIRCUIT COURTS
All sittings of the Northern Territory Local Court circuits are suspended until and including Thursday, 14 April 2022.
The affected circuits are:
Maningrida, Ramingining, Wadeye, Nhulunbuy, Wurrumiyanga, Galiwinku, Lake Evella, Daly River, Borroloola, Alyangula, Angurugu, Jabiru, Oenpelli, Numbulwar, Pirlingimpi.
Yarralin, Timber Creek, Mataranka, Ngukurr, Lajamanu, Kalkaringi, Barunga.
Yuendumu, Papunya, Kintore, Mutitjulu, Arlparra, Hermannsburg, Ali Curung, Ti Tree.
Sittings at Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs will continue.
Matters already listed
Chambers orders will be made adjourning all matters to a future listing as per the tables in the below links.
All contested hearings listed in the circuit court during the suspension are vacated and any summons to appear for witnesses are revoked.
All hearings already listed for the first sittings after the suspension are also vacated and relisted for case management, to allow for the greater number of plea or mention matters to be heard.
All matters listed for Preliminary Examination will be adjourned to the closest of either Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs next PEM list so that the matter can progress. Defendants will be excused from attending.
Any defendant or their Counsel may contact the nearest Court Registry to have their case transferred and dealt with in either Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs. A relist application should be made to the nearest registry, including any notification of virtual appearance.
Bail Conditions
All bail conditions continue on the same terms, however all reporting conditions are suspended until further order of the Court.
Defendants in custody
All matters where a defendant is in custody, or comes into custody, will be adjourned to and managed in the closest of either Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs. Hearing dates will be available should DPP and Defence Counsel advise that the hearing could logistically proceed in those Courts.
New matters
Defendants on new charges not in custody, should be bailed or served with notices to appear to a date after the suspension of the Court as per the below table. No more than 70 matters are to be listed on any given circuit court day.
On country bail applications
On country bail applications continue for Nhulunbuy, Alyangula, Wadeye and Tennant Creek only. Should bail be refused after telephone bail application, the Defendant will remain at that police station if a mention in Court in a regional centre can be arranged within 24 hours.
Domestic violence and personal violence applications and matters
All current domestic violence applications and any interim orders will continue and will be adjourned until the sittings after the suspension or to the same day as a related criminal charge. New applications should be returnable with any associated criminal matter. Urgent applications without an associated criminal matter should be lodged with the closest Court Registry.
Care and Protection applications
Any current and new applications will continue to be heard in the regional centres of Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.
Previous Notice – Notice 1 of 2022
The previous notice regarding circuit courts is revoked and replaced by this notice.
Leave to appear via AVL
Leave is granted for appearances via MS Teams or telephone if this can be facilitated. A notification of virtual appearance must be completed to ensure the Court has the relevant information. If MS Teams can be facilitated a link will be sent as per the procedure outlined in the virtual appearance guide.
Resumption of court circuit sittings
Prior to resumption of the circuit court sittings, a further notice will be issued and call-over lists may be convened.
This notice may be updated from time to time.
Notice 7/2022 – Date 4 February 2022.
Elizabeth Morris
Chief Judge
Updated Court Calendars