Usually on a Monday morning the hallway at Orange Court House is packed with people who are waiting for their court case, or that of a loved one to be raised.
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However, during the current pandemic, the court has followed the same distancing requirements as the rest of the country. Solicitors are sending emails and people in custody are appearing via audio visual links to reduce the number of people in the court room.
On Monday, the restrictions that were created as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus were tightened further.
Under the earlier changes, victims of sexual assault or domestic violence were not required to attend court and Housing Plus community services head Penny Dordoy said the organisation has been discussing Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders and domestic violence matters separately with the victims.
"We are working with women pre-court and just working around the court," Ms Dordoy said.
"Our victims don't attend court at the moment and we make sure they are not disadvantaged throughout the process by making sure there's no negative outcomes for them."
An earlier decision not to hear or list any defended hearings until a review at the end of April will also remain in force and according to the NSW department of Communities and Justice, it is likely these arrangements will be extended.
Campbell Paton and Taylor director Mason Manwaring regularly represents clients in Orange and other court houses across the region but has been making all his representations via email or AVL.
"We have been working with technology for a long time. Thus appearances via AVL, for instance, are not new or difficult," Mr Manwaring said.
He said all defended hearings have been cancelled for March and April and no clients have been sentenced since the restrictions were introduced.
"The real issue is that we cannot finalise matters for clients who have been waiting many months and sometimes years," Mr Manwaring said.
"Whilst this is frustrating for our clients, my clients so far have completely understood the situation and only hope that we all remain safe and well.
"Court can resume and matters finalised in due course. There is a real collective sense and spirit of being in this predicament together and working through it together."
As well as conducting court representations remotely he said all correspondence and or meetings with clients have been conducted electronically via telephone, email, Skype or Zoom.
Other changes that have been introduced in NSW to reduce court appearances include not listing non-bail matters for three months, prisoners are to appear via AVL, and allowances have been made to reduce the need for defendants and solicitors to appear in person.
In sentence matters where a sentence of imprisonment, by way of full-time custody or an intensive corrections orders are likely, the sentences are being postponed to later dates.
However, if the accused has been bail refused sentencing proceedings may take place by AVL from within a correctional centre and legal representative may also appear by AVL.
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