HMCTS operational summary: 1 April 2020

• We’re consolidating the work of courts and tribunals into fewer buildings – some are open to the public, staffed but are not open to the public, and temporarily closed was updated yesterday (31 March 2020).
• Our Courts and Tribunals Service Centres will be open from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday until further notice
• Jury trials that are underway continue but there are no new jury trials
• Crown Courts are only covering urgent work
• Magistrates’ courts are only covering urgent work (overnight custody and people brought from prison). Magistrates’ court cases update: 1 April 2020 (PDF, 235KB, 1 page)
• Civil court listing priorities Civil court listing priorities 1 April 2020 (PDF, 328KB, 1 page)
• Mental Health Tribunal telephone hearing guidance Mental Health Tribunal telephone guidance 1 April 2020 (PDF, 156KB, 1 page)
• We’re continuing to avoid physical hearings and arranging remote hearings wherever possible
• We’ve introduced temporary new hours in our Scotland contact centre. HMCTS Scotland contact centre opening hours 1 April 2020 (PDF, 149KB, 1 page)
• The High Court is covering work according to the High Court Contingency Plan. The Court of Appeal is only covering urgent work. The High Court and Court of Appeal work update: 1 April 2020 (PDF, 150KB, 1 page)
• Royal Courts of Justice Court of Appeal urgent business priorities RCJ Court of Appeal urgent business priorities 1 April 2020 (PDF, 164KB, 1 page)
• The Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office has temporarily closed. Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office update: 1 April 2020 (PDF, 252KB, 1 page)
• Judicial Office has published a number of important updates by jurisdiction