NOTICE #7 TO STAKEHOLDERS, PRACTITIONERS AND PUBLIC COVID-19 LOCKOUT – KATHERINE
Katherine Lockout
Circuit Courts
On Country Bail Applications
Key Contacts
Katherine Lockout
The Katherine Court and Registry will re-open to the public on 6 December 2021.
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 and members of the public are reminded of the requirement to wear masks at all times.
Circuit Courts
The next Circuit Courts out of Katherine, being Yarralin on 7 December and Timber Creek on 8 December, will not proceed. Matters will be dealt with on their listed days through the Katherine Court House. Minor matters may proceed to finalisation with defendants appearing via video or telephone, otherwise they will be adjourned.
Parties should contact their lawyer, the Court or attend at the Police Station to find out their future date.
On Country Bail Applications
On country bail applications will continue for all people refused telephone bail by a Local Court Judge in the Katherine region until Friday, 10 December 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 lockdown procedure, please see the below contacts:
Darwin Contacts
Acting Chief Judge Tanya Fong Lim: 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