Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many courtrooms in the Crown Court of England and Wales are currently set aside for the exclusive use of members of the public and press to observe (1) jury trials, and (2) hearings other than trials, such as sentences.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Public hearings, including those that are partly remote hearings, continue to take place in open court rooms, and access to observe these is via the public gallery. Special arrangements have been put in place to ensure physical access to jury trials for the media and members of the public, who have been able to attend court throughout the pandemic, if safe to do so. In order to allow appropriate social distancing to be maintained at all times, a second courtroom linked by closed circuit TV may be provided to enable the media and others to watch proceedings.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to enable Crown Court proceedings to be viewed remotely from outside the court estate.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Open justice is a fundamental principle in our courts and tribunals system and will continue to be so as we increase the use of audio and video technology.
Since the introduction of the Coronavirus Act, any hearing participant or member of the public may, with the permission of the judge, join a hearing remotely from outside the court estate, using an internet enabled device to access the Cloud Video Platform.