Senior Reporter
derek.achong@guardian.co.tt
The Judiciary is moving to resume in-person hearings at its Magistrates’/District Courts when the new 2026/2027 Law Term opens next month.
The move, which seeks to improve access to justice, was announced in a press release issued yesterday.
The release stated that in-person hearings will immediately resume at all its courts except the Port-of-Spain and Scarborough District Courts, where such hearings are expected to resume next year.
It also noted that 15 Criminal High Courts will be available for trials. Eleven such courts are located at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, three at the Princes Town Judicial Centre and one in Tobago.
Masters’ Court, which were introduced after preliminary inquiries for serious offences before magistrates were replaced with sufficiency hearings before High Court Masters, will continue to temporarily operate under a hybrid arrangement.
The Judiciary noted that the resumption would be phased with consultation with affected stakeholders.
It noted that the return to in-person hearings after the increased reliance of virtual hearings, that were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, follows its work to assess and improve court facilities across T&T.
The Judiciary pointed out that in recent months Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh visited court facilities across the country and met with staff.
“Our visits across the country have given us an opportunity to see the challenges first-hand, listen to our staff and identify areas that require attention,” CJ Boodoosingh said.
Despite the change, the Judiciary noted that it did not mean a complete end of virtual hearings.
The continued reliance on virtual hearings has been criticised by some judicial stakeholders including High Court Judge Frank Seepersad.
Speaking to media personnel while attending a youth empowerment event in South Trinidad yesterday, Seepersad welcomed the move, which he described as long overdue.
He said that in-person hearings are especially important for criminal cases and trials.
“In such proceedings, physical presence is not an anachronism. It is an important safeguard of fairness, dignity, effective participation,” Justice Seepersad said.
He said that witnesses should give evidence in a controlled environment while under the direct authority of a judge.
He said that in-person hearings also promote transparency.
“Justice does not derive authority from seclusion, but from its capacity to withstand scrutiny,” he said.
Justice Seepersad suggested that virtual hearings should still be used for case management, procedural applications and matters in which physical attendance serves no substantial purpose.
