Update on conduct of court business in the High Court

Given the extension of the Government measures until 5th May the President of the High Court has directed that the arrangements for the conduct of court business in the High Court remain the same for the first two weeks of Easter Term as for the last two weeks of Hilary Term. Only 6 types of urgent business namely  

• Applications for Bail
• Habeas Corpus
• Injunctions and the enforcement of same
• Examinerships
• Urgent Wardship matters
• Urgent Judicial Review applications
• Issue of proceedings where the statutory time limit to issue will expire before Tuesday 5th May 2020

will be dealt with on the civil side and bail and extradition on the criminal side. All motions and cases in all lists that are listed during this period are adjourned generally with liberty to re-enter.

You must contact the Central Office at dublincivillaw@courts.ie in advance of attending Court.

The High Court Central Office remains open and is operational. However, practitioners and members of the public are reminded that attendance at public counter is for urgent business only by appointment and in strict compliance with social distancing rules. Communication with the  office should be by phone or email and documentation for non urgent business can be filed by the other alternative methods for filing documents.

It is currently hoped that from Monday the 27th April it will be possible for the High Court to pilot remote hearings, where they are suitable and where they can be conducted in a manner which is fair and where the parties and their representatives can comply with all Government guidance and direction for the time being in force. Further statements will be issued to update both the public and practitioners on these developments and on other measures designed to allow the maximum number of cases to progress and be ultimately decided subject only to that being capable of being done safely.