Chief Magistrate’s Chambers
Magistrates Court
Adelaide

17 March 2020

ALL MATTERS BEFORE ADELAIDE MAGISTRATES COURT – CIVIL FROM 19 MARCH 2020

The Adelaide Magistrates Court hears the bulk of civil matters heard in the State.

Following the Government’s declaration of an emergency which threatens to cause death or injury, the Court will implement the following measures immediately:

General – in Court:

  • Parties and practitioners are not to come to the Court, if they have:
    • fever
    • flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue
    • shortness of breath
    • travelled outside Australia in the last 14 days and/or
    • had close contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected of having coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last 14 days
  • If a party or practitioner has a condition that makes them vulnerable to infection, or if they are generally concerned and do not wish to or do not feel comfortable to come into Court, they should advise Registry at least 24 hours prior to the hearing and make alternative satisfactory arrangements.
  • At the Court, parties and practitioners are not to approach Court staff and will always maintain a distance from others that is greater than 1.5 metres.
  • No documents will be handed up in Court but, if less than 10 pages must be sent electronically to Registry prior to the hearing or, if greater than 10 pages, 3 copies are to be lodged at the Registry the day prior to the hearing.

Directions Hearings:

  • All directions hearings will be conducted administratively either by email or phone using the contact details provided at the bottom of this letter:
    • all adjournments will be by email.  A Record of Outcome will be sent to all parties.
    • if substantive orders are required, parties are to send in draft consent orders by email.  A Record of Outcome will be sent to all parties.
    • emails for directions hearings are to be received at Registry by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing.
  • If parties cannot agree on consent orders, parties will be granted leave to appear by phone. Parties are to provide direct phone contact details before the hearing and remain contactable at that number for an hour from the scheduled hearing time. If the party cannot be contacted it will be considered that the party has not appeared and orders may be made in their absence.

Applications listed for Argument:

  • Parties may opt to appear by telephone on applications listed for argument. Direct phone contact details are to be provided to the Registry (contact details below) at least 1 hour before the hearing.

Any arguments that proceed in Court require that parties observe 1.5 metre social distancing.

 

Conciliation Conferences:

  • Conciliation conferences are to be held between the parties by telephone and/or at an alternative venue (not the Court precincts).  The parties are to advise the Court by joint email within 24 hours of concluding the conciliation conference, whether they seek either further orders by consent, or request that the Magistrate conduct a directions hearing at a date to be fixed (by telephone). A directions hearing will be convened (by email) shortly after the date for the conciliation conference, to allow the parties to advise the Court by joint email of the outcome and for consequential orders to be made.  For conferences to be listed in the future, they will be listed on the basis that a time for an email or phone directions hearing will be given, with the conciliation conference to be held prior to that time.

Trials:

Trials will proceed as normal except:

  • Parties will observe 1.5 metre social distancing.
  • Where the number of documents the party intends to rely on is less than 20 pages in total, the documents must be emailed to the Court (Registry email below) the day prior to the hearing.
  • Where the number of documents the party intends to rely on is greater than 20 pages in total, the party will lodge with the Registry, at least one day prior to the hearing, 3 copies of those documents.

For Mention Only Dates:

  • If parties wish to proceed on a ‘for mention only’ date they are to advise the Registry prior to the hearing and provide consent orders or, where requesting a phone hearing, phone contact details.
  • In the absence of this advice the action will be determined administratively and may be dismissed.

Drivers Licence Appeals under S 81BB of the Motor Vehicles Act:

  • Will proceed as usual.

Registrar’s ISUM/Enforcement List:

  • To proceed as usual, with social distancing protocols to be observed.

These measures will be implemented from 19 March 2020 and operate until Thursday 9 April 2020 (Easter).  They may be revised as new public health announcements are made.  The position for the four-week period commencing Tuesday 14 April 2020 will be communicated by 2 April 2020 and updated monthly thereafter, in the absence of other measures imposed by the Government.

Adelaide Magistrates Court Civil Registry Contact Details:
Phone: (08) 8204 2444
Email: amcregistry@courts.sa.gov.au
Postal Address: PO Box 6115, Halifax Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000

JUDGE MARY-LOUISE HRIBAL
CHIEF MAGISTRATE

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