In light of COVID-19, the Courts have made significant operational changes to reduce the risk of the spread of Coronavirus and continue vital proceedings in a safe environment.
To make it easier to stay on top of all the changes and any impact they may have on your legal proceedings, Tonkin Drysdale Partners has collated Court updates below.
NSW Courts and Tribunals
Local Court of NSW – summary of changes as of 24 March 2020
http://www.localcourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/
District Court of NSW – notice of procedural changes as of 25 March 2020
http://www.districtcourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Procedural%20Changes%20-%20Covid-19.pdf
Supreme Court of NSW – summary of changes to procedures as of 25 March 2020
http://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/coronavirus_covid19_announcement.aspx
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) – temporary changes to procedures as of 18 March 2020
https://www.ncat.nsw.gov.au/Pages/coronavirus-information-for-people-attending-ncat.aspx
Australian Federal Courts
Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia:
a. Parenting Orders and the COVID-19 pandemic – published on 25 March 2020:
http://www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fccweb/about/news/covid-parenting-orders
b. COVID-19 Update: Information for parents – published on 25 March 2020:
http://www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fccweb/about/news/covid-info-parents
c. Changes to registry services – published on 23 March 2020:
http://www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fccweb/about/news/covid19-230320
d. Registrar – face-to-face in-person protocol – published on 23 March 2020:
http://www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fccweb/online-services/covid/covid-news-hp
e. Notice to the Profession – COVID-19 Measures and listing arrangements for Registrars and Child Dispute Services (CDS) – published on 23 March 2020:
http://www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fccweb/about/news/covid-notice-cds-registrars
Federal Court of Australia
Special Measures in Response to COVID-19 – published on 23 March 2020:
https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/law-and-practice/practice-documents/practice-notes/smin-1
High Court of Australia
Practice Directions which took effect from 23 March 2020:
a. Practice Direction No. 1 of 2020: Electronic filing of documents – cases commenced before 1 January 2020:
https://cdn.hcourt.gov.au/assets/registry/practice-directions/PD-1-2020_efiling.pdf
b. Practice Direction No. 2 of 2020 – Opening of the Registry:
https://cdn.hcourt.gov.au/assets/registry/practice-directions/PD-2-2020_OpeningRegistry.pdf