Court Hearings during the Covid-19 Pandemic

In order to minimise the risk of transmission of Covid-19, the courts have produced a Protocol which provides guidance for conducting hearings remotely during the pandemic.

The Courts will be proposing one of the following solutions to the parties:

1. Conducting a remote hearing using one of the appropriate communication methods suggested by the court (see below);
2. Conducting a hearing in court, taking necessary precautions;
3. Adjournment of the hearing.

The courts suggest a number of available methods for remote hearings, including BT conference call, Skype for Business, court video link, BT MeetMe, Zoom and ordinary telephone call. Remote hearings will be recorded by the court official; the parties and their legal representatives are not allowed to record the hearing.

Where possible, remote hearings will still be conducted as public hearings. This can be achieved in a number of ways:

(a) relaying the audio and (if available) video of the hearing to an open court room;

(b) allowing accredited journalists to log in to the remote hearing; and/or

(c) live streaming of the hearing over the internet.

At the end of the remote hearing the order will be completed, the wording of which will be discussed and agreed with the parties.

If parties do not agree to the proposed option, they will need to make their submissions in writing by email or CE-file, as to what option they think would be more appropriate. The judge will then review the parties’ submissions and make a decision as to how to proceed with the hearing.

For further information on the requirements for the remote hearings, please visit the link below:

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Civil-court-guidance-on-how-to-conduct-remote-hearings.pdf