Court services are to be reduced in the wake of the increase in Covid-19 cases.

Magistrates’ Court and the Supreme Court will continue to operate, but with limited access to the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building in Hamilton.

But Alexandra Wheatley, the Supreme Court Registrar, said the Supreme Court Registries, based at the DLBE and the Government Administration Building, will be closed until May 3.

Only new applications considered urgent and responses to active urgent applications in the Probate Division can be e-mailed to the Supreme Court.

Anyone involved in a case considered urgent or time sensitive should contact the court by e-mail as soon as possible to explain the circumstances.

Follow up e-mails should not be sent unless also considered urgent.

Pleadings will not be accepted by e-mail unless the parties involved have been told to do so by the Judicial Department.

E-mailed messages or applications without Judicial Department approval are likely to be ignored.

Magistrates’ Court will be closed for filings until May 3 and urgent applications should be e-mailed to the court with an explanation of the need for speed.

The cashiers desk will reopen, but payments should still be made over the phone or by online banking if possible.

The number of people allowed inside the court building to make payments is limited to a maximum of ten at a time.

Masks must be worn, hands must be sanitised and people should bring their own pens to sign documents.

People must also maintain a six feet distance from each other and should have their case number ready to minimise payment processing time.

Anyone who does not stick to the rules or has signs of illness will not be allowed entry.

Ms Wheatley said: “We will continue to review and monitor the above to determine whether they should be extended and/or expanded.”

The Supreme Court can be contacted at supremecourt@gov.bm.

Urgent Magistrates’ Court communications should be sent to: