I think I might start a thread cataloguing the impact that #coronavirus is having on the courts, lawyers and justice system. Anyone with any examples do please let me know - my email is catherinebaksi@hotmail.com.
Here we go:
1. A self-isolating judge at Southwark crown court gave a ruling in an application to extend he terms of a compliance order relating to a £37k confiscation order via iPhone on load speaker.
1. A self-isolating judge at Southwark crown court gave a ruling in an application to extend he terms of a compliance order relating to a £37k confiscation order via iPhone on load speaker.
2. The lord chief justice of Northern Ireland has suspended new jury trials starting from 18th March. No similar announcement from the lord chief justice for England and Wales.
3. A prison officer High Down prison in Surrey has become the first person in any UK prison to test positive for the virus and four prisoners who were in close contact with him have been put in isolation.
A jury has been discharged at Reading crown court after the prosecuting barrister, took the decision to self-isolate for seven days.
5. Grenfell Tower Inquiry (chair and inquiry counsel in their 70s) has said there will no further hearings for the time being, following the PM's announcement to avoid exposing people attending to 'unacceptable risk of
infection'. assets.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/inline-files/2…
infection'. assets.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/inline-files/2…
6. Eleven jurors in the trial of Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, at the Old Bailey retired to consider their verdict after one of the original 12 members of the jury took the decision to self-isolate after running a high temperature.
7. I'm hearing from several solicitors, barristers and judges who are self-isolating. Some barristers have had to return briefs and many lawyers not doing court work are working from home.
8. High Court grants permission in high value brain injury case for parties to agree extensions of time for up to 56 days by consent without further order in light of the virus: 7br.co.uk/2020/03/covid-…
9. Kenyan granted immigration bail, partly based on impact of virus. Judge was" persuaded by the pandemic point. It seems to me completely relevant that imminence of removal just cannot be guaranteed in these fast changing times with air travel restrictions.” h/t @FranckMagennis
10. A 6-8-week murder trial with 4 defendants, due to start at the Old Bailey today, was adjourned & listed for mention on Friday when it's anticipated it'll be further adjourned. I'm told by lawyers that no new Old Bailey trials are starting, but no official word from @MoJGovUK.
11. I like the pragmatic approach of @HedgesLaw, which is arranging the witnessing of a will-signing by a very ill client through the window of her bedroom while they talk her through the process by phone.
12. Of four trials due to start today at Southampton crown court, I'm told that two had self-isolating defendants and another had two self-isolating complainants. Only one actually began.
13. Judge Beddoe @ Southwark crown court sitting late today to hear all evidence & adjourn to 31st March for closing speeches in trial of R v Akle, Whiteley & Bond (accused of paying bribes to secure Iraqi oil contracts) - @UKSFO tell me no one has symptoms or is self-isolating.
13a. Continuing from previous tweet, the @UKSFO tell me the judge in R v Akle, Whiteley & Bond made the decision to adjourn after speaking with jurors and assessing the situation & recent guidance. They tell me other judges are making similar decisions on a case by case basis.
Replying to
14, While @BonnyTurner1212 tells me she & others are crammed into a tiny courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice for the @centreWJ & @EVAWuk judicial review of the @cpsuk decision-making policy in rape cases.
14, While @BonnyTurner1212 tells me she & others are crammed into a tiny courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice for the @centreWJ & @EVAWuk judicial review of the @cpsuk decision-making policy in rape cases.
15. Jury in trial of two men accused of a £1.2million conspiracy to steal has been discharged because judge said “two key players in the case” fell into the category that should be self-isolating. New trail date set in October. edp24.co.uk/news/crime/jur…
16. Five-day employment tribunal hearing in London adjourned on second day -- both lay members stood down after government advice yesterday, as they are both in vulnerable groups.
BREAKING: Updated from lord chief justice: Emergency law being drafted which is likely to expand powers of criminal courts to use technology ... aim is to maintain service to the public, ensure as many hearings proceed & deal with all urgent matters: judiciary.uk/announcements/…
17. The judge advocate general has suspended all courts martial trials and sentence hearings until 20th April. h/t @CrimeGirI @AMCA_News and @MatthewIain86
BREAKING: At 9.45pm the lord chief justice has announced that all new Crown court trials cases estimated to last longer than three days listed to start before the end of April 2020 will be adjourned. Trials underway will generally proceed in the hope that they can be completed. 
STATEMENT from lord chancellor @RobertBuckland: "Despite an unprecedented public health emergency, the Prime Minister and I are clear that our courts across England and Wales have a critical role to play and should go on sitting." Details here: gov.uk/government/new…
FIRST prisoner to test positive for COVID-19, says @MoJGovUK -- the prisoner, at HMP Manchester, is in hospital. No other prison staff or prisoners have tested positive, but 13 prisoners and four members of staff were put into isolation as a precaution.
