COVID-19 arrangements for Higher Courts from 4 January 2022
Posted 5 January 2022
The CAA has advised the following measures have been implemented in the Higher Courts from 4 January 2022 in response to the current COVID-19 situation in South Australia. They are subject to review.
GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Hearings will proceed in January in the ordinary way, save that the Court may contact practitioners to arrange an AVL or on the papers hearing and practitioners who wish to arrange an alternative hearing procedure should contact the chambers of the judicial officer before whom the matter is listed.
Attendance by AVL for prisoners in custody will be arranged where possible.
DOCUMENT FILING
- Wherever practical, to avoid attendance in person at the Higher Courts Registry all documents presented in the approved form for filing with the Higher Courts, should be presented for filing electronically in advance of the court hearing and in accordance with the applicable Court Rules relating to documents and service or by registered post.
- Documents can be lodged electronically for Civil, Probate and ERD matters via the ECMS portal https://courtsa.courts.sa.gov.au
- Documents can also be lodged electronically by email as follows:
- The original testamentary document must still be lodged with the Probate Registry via the drop-off box located in Sir Samuel Way building or via post to 241-259 Victoria Square Adelaide 5000.
- Where it is not possible to send documents electronically, they can be posted to: GPO Box 2465 Adelaide. (Indicate on the envelope which court the documents are being sent to) or lodged in a registry filing box located in the Sir Samuel Way building.
- All emailed documents should be signed and lodged in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.
- All documents including written submissions, must be submitted to the Court no later than 1 clear working day before the hearing.
- Communication with the Court is required to be via the CourtSA website (Portal) or email to the relevant court.
- Parties and practitioners are reminded of the requirement that all parties must be copied in any email communication with the Court.
COVID court arrangements
Posted 4 January 2022
The Courts Administration Authority has published the following notices with respect to court arrangements in response to the COVID-19 situation in the State:
Arrangements for Magistrates Courts from 4 January 2022
Arrangements for Adelaide Youth Court from 4 January 2022
COVID Safe Restrictions on entry to all Court Buildings
Practitioners are encouraged to monitor the CAA's News webpage for updates.
COVID-19 and masks in court buildings
Posted 28 September 2021
The following message is distributed at the request of the Chief Justice.
Since the lifting of lockdown at midnight on 27 July 2021, the wearing of masks has been mandated in public places, including court buildings. The only exception is at the direction of a judicial officer within a courtroom.
His Honour has received reports of members of the legal profession and their clients not wearing masks in court buildings and not complying with lift restrictions. Complacency poses a real threat in dealing with the pandemic. Practitioners are reminded to:
- wear a mask at all times in court buildings, unless directed not to by a judicial officer in a courtroom,
- comply with restrictions identified for lifts, courtrooms and meeting rooms,
- maintain social distancing in public areas, and
- make use of hand sanitiser provided at public lifts and in courtrooms
Disposable masks are available from Sheriff s Officers at point of entry.