Sitting arrangements: Christmas New Year Period 2019/2020

25/11/2019

Normal rostered sittings of the Local Court are suspended on and from Monday 23 December 2019. The following sitting arrangements are to occur from Monday 23 December 2019 to Friday 3 January 2020 inclusive:

Metropolitan area On weekdays, that are not public holidays, two Acting Magistrates will be rostered at Parramatta Local Court to determine bail for adult persons who.remain in custody in the metropolitan area and to consider any urgent applications for Apprehended Violence Orders that are lodged statewide. All adults, remanded in custody within the Sydney Metropolitan area, are to be dealt with via Audio Visual Link facilities at Parramatta Local Court from Correctional facilities.

Regional areas Registrars of the Court will conduct bail hearings when required at regional locations. General instructions for Authorised Justices conducting adult bail courts Authorised Justices and Magistrates are to adjourn matters involving persons in custody to the next sitting day of the Court (or circuit if applicable) from which that matter arises on or after 6 January 2020 wherever possible. Should an accused person be refused bail and not consent to the adjournment beyond the statutory period the matter should not be adjourned to Parramatta Local Court, unless arrangements have been made with the relevant registrar for the listing of the matter before a magistrate.

Children's Court - Juveniles in Custody on weekdays that are not public holidays. The following sitting arrangements are to occur from Monday 23 December 2019 to Friday 3 January 2020 inclusive.

Two Acting Magistrates with experience in the operation of the Children's Court will be rostered at Parramatta Children's Court to determine bail applications, urgent applications for Apprehended Violence Orders and urgent applications for care and protection orders from across the state.

Specific details in relation to the operation of the children's court during this period will be published separately by the Children's Court.

Apprehended Violence Orders Magistrates will be available at Parramatta Children's Court and Local Court on weekdays that are not public holidays to determine urgent applications only during court sittings hours.

Weekends and Public Holidays Bail Courts will operate in accordance with normal arrangements.

---