The Chief Justice on the hearing of cases in the Supreme Court during the coronavirus outbreak

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, I decided on 12 March 2020 to suspend all oral hearings in the Supreme Court from Friday 13 March until and including Thursday 26 March. The suspension period may be extended. However, written hearings in the Appeals Selection Committee are conducted as normal.

The Supreme Court is now making arrangements so that hearings in suitable civil cases may be held by way of written submissions or remote meetings. Our goal is to be able, within a relatively short time, to hold several hearings in this manner. The question of alternative procedures will be discussed with counsel in each case where this is considered expedient.

There is no legal basis in current legislation for hearing criminal cases by way of written submissions or remote meetings. The Supreme Court has therefore proposed to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security that certain adjustments be made to the set of rules to allow for alternative procedures also in criminal cases.