Courts still operating despite restrictions

WHILE most court buildings are either closed to the public or operating on an appointment system, this does not mean that the business of the court is not taking place.

There have been temporary adjustments of operations at several of the district courts (more commonly known as magistrates’ courts), as well as at the Hall of Justice which houses the High Court and the Appeal Court and the various registries, because of covid19 precautionary measures.

Sources at a couple of the district courts which have been closed to in-person hearings, except in limited cases, in keeping with practice directions issued by the Chief Justice in August, said staff there, which includes police officers, administrative staff and magistracy registrars, are still doing “normal paperwork” which is necessary to keep the wheels of justice turning.

Some of these “normal paperwork” includes the issuing of remand warrants for those who were remanded to prison without bail, processing of bail for those who were granted bail by a magistrate, the issuing of protection orders and licenses among others.

One judicial officer said the Judiciary has maintained an open avenue for communicating with the public who can telephone the various courts or send e-mails.

There are also the CourtPay service for the payment of fines and maintenance, e-filing provisions and a domestic violence hotline.

While most magistrates have been operating externally (outside of the courtrooms) because of the covid19 pandemic since March, magistracy registrars are in the building since they are the keepers of the records of those courts. Prisoners usually appear virtually either from the respective prisons, where virtual courts have been set up, or from police stations.

They are also the custodian of anything detained by a magistrate; perfect orders of the court; certify extracts of the court proceedings; certify appeals proceedings coming out of the district courts so that they can be sent to the Court of Appeal; fix and grant bail among other duties.

Sources said since the court buildings must be maintained, there are also security and janitorial staff present.

“So by you asking the question ‘“what activities are actually happening at the courts if not for hearings’ would suggest that very little or nothing is taking place there when that is the furthest from the reality. There are many aspects of the workings of the courts, other than hearings, and this work is continuing despite the challenges we face because of the coronavirus pandemic,” the judicial officer told Newsday.

Questions sent to the Judiciary on Monday have not been answered.