Schedule: Temporary Measures Part 1: Courts and Tribunals: Conduct of business by electronic means, etc. Suspension for requirement for physical attendance in criminal proceedings, excluding trials and certain processes
232.Paragraph 7(2)(a) allows the Lord Justice General to make determinations relieving people from the requirement to attend criminal courts in person. It does not apply in relation to trials, which are instead governed by paragraph 6. Despite a determination by the Lord Justice General generally relieving people from having to attend certain proceedings in person, paragraph 7(2)(b) allows a court to require in-person attendance in an individual case.
233.A determination by the Lord Justice General could, for example, provide that accused persons are to attend sentencing hearings by electronic means. A determination might also empower courts in individual cases to remove the requirement for in-person attendance. A determination can make different provision for different areas, so could be used to pilot virtual attendance in certain localities.
234.Where a person is allowed to attend a hearing virtually because of a determination by the Lord Justice General under paragraph 7(2)(a), sub-paragraph (6) requires the court to ensure that the parties know they can request the court to direct the person to attend in person instead, and requires the court to deal with that request before any substantive matter at the hearing.