Family Court addressing mandate- Justice Kurtzious

that where this is not the end result, after a period of discussion, courtroom trial proceedings would commence.

Justice Kurtzious also pointed out that there have been some cases where the court was able to refer parties to court annexed mediation, a section of the Family Court, where alternative means of dispute resolution can be explored, apart from the courtroom.

The Family Court also has an onsite probation officer, who, on the court’s request, provides immediate observation of relations between children and parents, where the need so arises.

The officer assigned to the court, who is also a Child Care and Protection Officer, would thereafter prepare reports after conducting follow-up interviews to update the court on the particular case.

The Family Court also caters for potential litigants who may not have an attorney, and who have not yet initiated legal proceedings, to walk into its registry to seek guidance from its customer service representatives, as to the way forward in beginning proceedings.

The judge said that these persons, who are referred to as walk-in applicants, can then seek the assistance of the Legal Aid Clinic, to whom the Registry staff would direct them.

The Family Court block is also outfitted with a Child Care Room where litigants can leave their minor children, while their matters are being heard. During this time, the children are cared for by childcare workers who are staff members of the court.

The room also caters for supervised visits between children and parents where the court so orders in custody hearings. There, the childcare workers and probation officers, will observe interactions between children and parents, and ensure that visitation timelines are adhered to.

The room is however not limited to the children of litigants before the Family Court, but all litigants before the Supreme Court in general, who, when they have to attend court, would otherwise have no one to supervise their children.

The room caters for all minor children, from infancy to 17-years of age, and operates from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm.

Visitations are so organized, that only one set of parents/guardians and their child/children would occupy the space at any given time.

Meals for the children utilising the room are provided for by the Child Care and Protection Agency, which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Social Protection.

To boost its service delivery, the courts are equipped with skype technology which it says has contributed to reducing delays.

Justice Kurtzious said that while there may be occasional challenges facing the Family Court, it is progressing. She said that its resounding success also depends largely on the adherence of legal practitioners to case management rules, and their compliance with strict timelines set by the court.

In its 2016 Yearly Report, the Family Court said that its efforts are to facilitate the maintenance of public trust and confidence.

According to the report, for the period June to December of last year, the court had an intake of six custody with maintenance matters, one custody with division of property case and eight custody with access matters.

For the same period, 14 division of property matters were brought before it, eight for injunction with division of property, and one for maintenance of division of property case.

As regards divorce statistics for the said period, 18 divorce with custody matters were laid before the court, three divorce with maintenance, four divorce with access, two divorce with division of property, two divorce with custody and division with property matters and 14 divorce with maintenance and division of property cases.