Jury trials in the Supreme Court could soon restart, a judge signalled yesterday.

Puisne Judge Craig Attridge said during a hearing that court facilities to safely hold criminal cases were expected to be ready in the “not too distant future”.

Mr Justice Attridge added that, based on communications he had received, the proposed trial location could be ready for inspection as early as this week.

He said: “Once everybody is happy with the facilities, trials will be carried out in fairly short order.”

Supreme Court trials halted earlier this year over concerns about Covid-19 and have yet to resume because nowhere could be found to hold trials in line with health regulations.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons said in August that 19 criminal cases awaited trial dates and an additional 22 “new cases” had been “listed since Covid-19 graced our shores”.

The Government earlier announced that it would renovate the former Supreme Court at Sessions House to introduce additional safety measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and make it suitable for trials.

When Supreme Court criminal trials do begin again they will operate under new jury selection rules.

Legislators approved amendments in July to end the ability of prosecutors to “standby” an unlimited number of potential jurors without reason.

The amendments came just a week after the Supreme Court found that the rule went against the principle of a defendant’s right to a fair trial.