Qld jury trials suspended for six weeks amid rising Covid-19 case numbers

The wheels of justice will turn slowly over the next six weeks, with jury trials in Queensland’s Supreme and District Courts suspended in a bid to reduce the severity of the anticipated omicron peak.

Jury trials in Queensland’s Supreme and District Courts have been suspended until February 21.

Jury trials have been suspended for at least six weeks as Queensland battles to contain rising Covid-19 case numbers.

All new jury trials in Queensland’s Supreme and District Courts have been suspended until February 21, as a precautionary measure due to the pandemic.

The state’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine Holmes and Chief District Court Judge made the order on Monday, with the situation to be reviewed on February 11.

Judge-only trials will continue and jury trials that were due to start in coming weeks will be reviewed by the court.

Chief Justice Hon Catherine Holmes. Picture: Liam Kidston

There were 9,581 Covid cases recorded in Queensland on Monday, not including results from four labs that were unable to pass on their data.

The pandemic has repeatedly disrupted court proceedings across Australia.

Queensland’s justice system ground to a halt in March 2020, when jury trials were suspended for months in order to comply with social distancing regulations.

“Trial by jury is a precious artefact, not only of our criminal justice system but of our level of democracy,” Judge Devereaux said at the time.

“But at the moment the Queensland criminal justice system, like all systems of justice and public and private administration, is adapting to an extraordinary state of affairs, namely the COVID-19 pandemic.”

For more information about court matters, visit courts.qld.gov.au.