CORONAVIRUS: What to do about court matters during pandemic
Free information about what defendants need to know and do, where to seek advice, about matters they have in court during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rockhampton
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CENTRAL Queenslanders with matters before the courts need to be aware of changes to how courts will operate during the Coronavirus pandemic.
As of Monday, March 23, the Magistrates courts in Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Bowen, Proserpine, Emerald, Blackwater, Woorabinda, Clermont, Moranbah, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Childers, Mackay, Sarina and Biloela will be operating differently.
Appearances
Defendants, or their legal practitioners, can appear via telephone, email, letter or electronic adjournment request in any matters.
Legal Aid is offering free advice and assistance over the phone during this period. Phone the Legal Aid hotline on 1300 651188 or visit - www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Home.
Normally, defendants are required to appear in person for their first mention, however, due to COVID-19, the majority of matters will be adjourned for three months. See further down for what won't be adjourned.
Should any of the above courts cease to operate due to the pandemic all matters will be adjourned from those centres to future dates with all parties notified.
Any urgent applications including domestic violence and bail applications for those centres will be dealt with by telephone from either Rockhampton, Mackay or Brisbane Central Magistrates Courts.
New guidelines will be issued in such an event.
Magistrate Cameron Press, who created the guidelines, said they were designed to ensure magistrates courts continued to provide courtroom services as far as possible while facilitating social distancing by significantly limiting the number of persons in court.
Defendants or their lawyers wanting to appear by telephone must email a
request to do so and the request:
1. Must be received prior to 8.30am on the day the matter is listed; and
2. Include a telephone number by which the person can be contacted. The court will contact
that number on the day between 9am and 4pm.
See factbox at bottom for contact details of each courthouse.
Pleas of guilty and sentences
Depending on the type of charge when matters are mentioned, the presiding magistrate may accept pleas of guilty if requested to do so and impose a penalty/sentence upon conviction.
Hearings
All matters currently listed for a contested hearing or intended to be listed for a contested hearing will be adjourned to a date at least three months in advance for mention only.
All parties will be notified in writing of the new mention date.
On that new mention date those matters will be allocated new hearing dates.
If there is urgency for a contested hearing the party should make a request in writing or email for the court's consideration.
Domestic Violence Applications
Courts will continue to deal with these applications as usual. Parties can request to appear by phone.
For process of making such request see Appearances in Court above.
As for contested Domestic Violence Applications and their hearing dates see Hearings above.
Urgent Domestic Violence Applications will be heard at the discretion of the presiding magistrate.
Urgent QCAT Applications
Will continue to be heard as usual. For appearance by phone see Appearances in Court above.
URGENT - pleas, bail applications, traffic charges or applications
Request for these matters should be in writing or by email and include reason/s for urgency.
Parties will be advised of the Magistrate's decision regarding an urgent listing.
Prisoners appearing via video link
Prisoners will continue to be eligible to appear by video in court.
Prisoners in correctional centres are only to be brought to the court for appearances in extraordinary circumstances.
Last week, the District and Supreme Courts in Queensland postponed jury trials until further notice.
Central Queensland's Justice Graeme Crow and Judge Michael Burnett have rearranged schedules to carry out more sentences than normal and while jury trials are on hold, defendants can discuss with their lawyers about a judge only trial.
Legal centres that help defendants, such as Legal Aid and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, have also implemented changes to the way they do things to coincide with the magistrates court's new system and in response to COVID-19.
Legal Aid CEO Anthony Reilly said Legal Aid Queensland had suspended its face-to-face duty lawyer services (crime, domestic and family violence, family law and child protection) as a precautionary measure for its staff, private lawyers who do legal aid work and the public.
"Instead, we are working with State Magistrates Courts and the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia to provide these services via telephone and video link," Mr Reilly said.
"Please note, this suspension is only in relation to face-to-face duty lawyer services, and for the moment, representation services will continue with clients being screened.
"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) LTD (ATSILS) advises that all pre court and court circuits into the communities of Woorabinda and Yarrabah have been suspended immediately due to the potential health vulnerability of our people in remote communities.
"ATSILS is committed to supporting efforts from all levels of government to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to communities.
"In addition to travel restrictions to our remote communities, ATSILS has looked to limit travel by staff to and from communities in other regions of the state (including urban and regional) for non-essential purposes, where options such as tele/videoconference or postponement are reasonable alternatives.
"In addition, prearranged events requiring people to travel to or from communities have been deferred indefinitely.
"Several remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have started to restrict access to their community for non-essential travel."
CEO Shane Duffy said ATSILS continued to provide essential services with increased caution to protect staff and the community of which it serviced from the potential spread of COVID-19.
"We have a response plan in place to increase protection for our staff, clients and communities and are continually implementing business continuity arrangements to minimise disruption to service delivery," he said.
ATSILS will continue to monitor this rapidly evolving situation related to COVID-19 and update staff, clients, community and stakeholders of any further service delivery adjustments accordingly.
For further information regarding access to legal services during this time please contact an ATSILS office in your region: www.atsils.org.au/contact/
Email: info@atsils@org.au
Call: 1800 012 255 - Free call 24/7 for urgent criminal law matters.
Central Queenslanders can still access free legal advice despite the outbreak of COVID-19 virus.
While many businesses close their doors or limit customer numbers, Central Queensland Community Legal Centre has implemented its COVID-19 Continuity Plan, which has been developed to reduce impacts and risks of the virus.
CQCLC president Rick Palmer said the centre's solicitors continued to provide services from the office and by using videoconferencing, Facetime and telephone for people who would normally attend outreach clinics throughout CQ.
"These alternatives will ensure people across the region continue to have access to free legal advice while the COVID-19 pandemic continues," he said.
Mr Palmer said the centre had also set in place some rules to reduce the risk to staff and customers who visited the centre.
"We will not be physically touching others, including handshaking, and will maintain a 1.5 to 2 metre space between people at all times," he said.
The plan also includes regular disinfection of the reception desk, pens, door handles and other public areas; and all staff travel has been cancelled.
"We have taken this threat seriously but realise our services are essential, especially for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our region."
To book a free half-hour legal advice appointment, phone CQCLC on 1800 155 121 or via the 'chatbot' at the top of the homepage at www.cqclc.org.au
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