Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

[F1 57ZA Use of live links in appeals against requirements or restrictions imposed on a potentially infectious person E+W

(1) This section and sections 57ZB to 57ZF apply in relation to proceedings on an appeal under paragraph 17(1) or 61(1) of Schedule 21 to the Coronavirus Act 2020 (appeal against requirement or restriction imposed on potentially infectious person).

(2) The proceedings are to be conducted wholly as video proceedings unless the court directs otherwise under subsection (3).

(3) The court must, where it considers that it would be contrary to the interests of justice not to do so, direct that one or more persons taking part in the proceedings—

(a) is not to take part in all or any part of the proceedings through a live video link;

(b) is to take part in all or any part of the proceedings through a live audio link.

(4) The court's power to make a direction under subsection (3) may be exercised by—

(a) a single justice;

(b) an authorised court officer.

(5) In subsection (4)(b), an “authorised court officer” means a person who—

(a) is an authorised person for the purposes of Part 6A of the Courts Act 2003 (see section 67B(3) of that Act), and

(b) has a qualification specified in regulation 2 of the Authorised Court Staff (Legal Advice Functions) Qualifications Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/98).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 57ZA-57ZF and cross-heading inserted (temp.) (25.3.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 26 (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision expires (10.12.2021) by virtue of The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Early Expiry) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1399), regs. 1(2), 4)