Trial postponed to help stop the virus

Wednesday 18 March 2020

The outbreak of covid-19 has had a knock-on effect for the island's justice system, with the postponement of a lengthy jury trial one of the measures the Royal Court is taking in response.

The Court said this morning that other jury trials could also be postponed, given the current public health advice to minimise close contact as far as possible.

It comes as part of a series of measures which will come into effect on Monday (23 March) until at least 30 April. 

On jury service, the judicial greffe said that decisions will be taken “on a case-by-case basis due to the varying demands of a jury trial,” adding that “as the situation progresses we will use the information at the time to determine the safest approach for the conduct of assize jury trials.”

Announced this morning, the Royal Court will be implementing the following: 

• stringent cleaning measures in all publicly accessible areas;
• the continuation of jury service will be considered on a case-by-case basis;
• the Court reserves the ability to defer cases and trials in any event;
• the public are encouraged to pass residential contracts through attorney rather than attending the court. To assist in this, legal firms have agreed to temporarily waive the costs of drafting a Power of Attorney and the Court has also waived any filing fees;
• one lengthy assize jury trial has been postponed;
• the Court is seeking the adjournment of forthcoming non-family and non-criminal cases between 23 March and 30 April;
• deadlines for court case papers are to become to stricter;
• the consequences for trials later in the year will be managed on a case-by-case basis;
• sentencing is to continue as normal;
• staff will be divided into two groups located at either end of the building.

Commenting on the new swathe of measures, the Bailiff Tim Le Cocq said: “It is obvious to say it but, the health and wellbeing of members of the public and staff is of the utmost importance. 

“These stringent plans aim to contain the spread of coronavirus based on the advice of Government of Jersey and Jersey’s Public Health Agency, while ensuring the continued operation of the Island’s justice system. We will keep all steps under review and are open to considering further steps to protect members of the public and legal profession who are using the courts.”

Measures regarding Jersey’s lower remand court, the Magistrate’s Court, will be announced in due course.

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