The two-week independent review, due to end on 15 May and report back on 22 May, will be led by Dr Natalie Byrom, director of research at the Legal Education Foundation.
It will look at the swift expansion of the use of remote hearings, focusing on the experience of court users, and aims to offer practical recommendations for improvement. Practitioners are invited to submit materials to consultation@theLEF.org or, if they have taken part in or observed a remote hearing since 19 March, complete the CJC survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CJC_CovidReview. A virtual consultation meeting will be held on 11 May (joining instructions to be issued at a later date).
Sir Terence Etherton, Master of the Rolls, said: ‘The evidence collected by this review will be invaluable in shaping the way forward for the civil justice system, both immediately and in the longer term.’
Meanwhile, the Jury Trial Working Group has made progress on plans to resume jury trials in criminal cases.
The group, chaired by Mr Justice Edis, met this week to discuss plans to restart jury trials in certain Crown Courts with enough space and a suitable design to allow for social distancing. It has identified a small number of Crown Courts as potential venues.
Further assessment will now take place with support from representatives of Public Health England and Public Health Wales, with the results due to be reported back to the group at its meeting next week.
The group is also assessing the readiness of criminal justice agencies and partners to support jury trials at these locations.
The Lord Chief Justice postponed all new jury trials on 23 March, and the working group was convened a month later to look for ways to restart jury trials safely.
