Courts on lockdown again

THE Supreme and National Courts in Port Moresby were placed on lockdown again yesterday, the second time in a month, after four staff members, two judges and two officers of the corporate services tested positive for the Covid-19.
Registrar Ian Augerea said in a circular that the lockdown was declared following a surge in infections the past weeks in the National Capital District (NCD) and nationwide, and in consultation with Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi and National Judicial Staff Services secretary Jack Kariko.
Augerea stated in the circular that:

• ONLY essential staff will be at work for urgent hearings;
• JUDGES will continue to work in chambers or from home;
• JUDGES’ personal staff will continue to work in chambers if requested by Judges;
• ALL courtrooms will be closed, except for courtroom 8 and 9;
• ALL cases listed for the next two weeks are now adjourned for further directions;
• ONLY cases considered to be urgent will be heard by way of electronic hearing, these includes, bail, deportation, life or death situation, evictions, commercial cases where considerable hardship will result if court does not intervene, for exceptional circumstances such as a ceremonial sitting; and,
• CASES approved for hearing will be heard by way of video link unless approved otherwise by the presiding judge.

He said the registries would be closed for the duration of the shutdown period.
Augerea said all officers should undergo compulsory testing where the Covid-19 team would organise with the NCD Health Division or the Department of Health to conduct tests on site.
He said that if a provincial centre was facing similar situation as Port Moresby, this protocol could be adopted and applied in such a province.
“The provincial judge administrator and Assistant Registrar may, after seeking specific approval of the Chief Justice, shut down the court for two weeks or any other period as considered appropriate. It is to be noted that this is not a holiday for judges and staff,” he said.
“It is recommended that all judges and staff exercise extreme caution and stay safe during this lockdown period.
“Judges and staff must stay at home and not risk attending gatherings in and around the city.
“We owe a duty of care to ourselves, our families and the public.”
The shutdown would be reviewed on March 29.
Registry officers may be contacted at the following email addresses; [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]