Justice system courts virus woes with social distancing and adjournments galore
Three month adjournments proliferated, guilty please were entered in written form while essential staff only scrambled to keep southeast Queensland’s justice system ticking.
North Lakes Times
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MAGISTRATES courts across the Brisbane region have had to drastically adjust their operating procedures as coronavirus spreads.
While the wheels of justice have kept turning locales have each adapted to run lean operations with social distancing a priority.
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Holland Park Magistrates Court staff said they had not been notified of a closure and at this stage defendants would be allowed in on Monday.
There is hand sanitiser at the entrance and every second seat has a “do not sit here’’ sign to maintain social distancing.
However, Legal Aid solicitors stopped attending as of today and will appear only on in-house matters.
Magistrate Simon Young said he expected more matters to be heard ex parte (where the defendant is not present) or via video link.
Presently, no-shows are often dealt with ex parte in any case.
Mr Young also encountered one unexpected problem, a case where he had to decide whether to grant an adjournment so a defendant charged with alleged speeding could travel to Africa for business.
The police prosecutor pointed out the defendant would have to self isolate upon return to Australia, but may not be allowed back in the country if they were a non-citizen.
He did not know their residency status.
“Such are the complications we must deal with,’’ Mr young said.
However, he said in that case an adjournment to May 22 was warranted.
A Pine Rivers Magistrates Court spokesman said people were being kept out of court as much as possible.
Police prosecutors, magistrates and court staff were still present but the general public and defendants were absent.
“We have a little process where defendants can fill out a form and get their matter adjourned or plead guilty in writing and they can drop that form off and they can go so that they are not hanging around in the foyer or in the courtroom,” the spokesman said.
“It is a really ad hoc situation and changes daily.
“Basically court is still operating but we are waiting on our local guidelines which are being drawn up by our two magistrates.
“That should be done by this afternoon and will be published for everyone to explain how we will operate and what processes will be put in place to keep court ticking over.
“It is quite a lengthy and involved document.
“At this stage everything is being adjourned for three months where possible.
“Lawyers are encouraged to appear by phone; it is really ad hoc at the moment until we get those guidelines.
“Most courts will be running the same thing but just slightly different.”
Beenleigh Courthouse focused on implementing social distancing measures.
Customers at the registry were asked to stand behind a line in front of the counter to maintain a “healthy” distance, according to signage.
In Courtroom 1, which housed the arrest court, only five parties were let in at a time, in addition to police prosecutors and legal representatives.
Upstairs in District Court, social distancing was less obvious: courtrooms were smaller and legal teams larger.
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In Courtroom 5 Judge Craig Chowdhury delisted several upcoming trials and suggested upcoming weeks designated for trials could be rescheduled to pass more sentences on guilty pleas not requiring a trial.
And at Caboolture Magistrates Court one person was let into court at a time while most solicitors appeared via video link.
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