Courts

(asked on 12th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to support people who are in need of urgent priority court hearings.


Answered by
Chris Philp Portrait
Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
This question was answered on 26th May 2020

Urgent priority court hearings are going ahead, and work has been prioritised to ensure justice systems remain open to the most vulnerable. Whether and how cases are listed is a judicial decision. HMCTS, together with the judiciary, has ensured priority case types continue to be dealt with, such as those held in police or prison custody, applications for Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and applications relating to public health concerns. Case prioritisation is under constant review. In addition, we have been a rapidly expanding our use of technology so that more video and audio hearings can take place across the justice system, subject to judicial discretion.

Users can be assured that where their case has been adjourned that the department will do all it can to support the judiciary in listing the case when the situation allows for it.

We’re doing everything possible to ensure any potential negative impacts are identified and mitigated for vulnerable users, by putting the right support in place for them.

We work with the advice sector to fully understand the impacts on vulnerable people, reasonable adjustments, and reflecting up to date advice from the sector in our processes for court users to join hearings and in related staff guidance.

We are pleased that the courts are now in a position, with approval from Public Health England and Public Health Wales, to take some first steps towards the resumption of jury trials.

Our priorities are to protect the safety of our staff, the judiciary, legal professionals and all courts and tribunal users while continuing to provide access to justice – in particular for the most time-critical and sensitive cases.

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