From September 1st 2026, most Magistrates’ Courts will transition to in-person hearings.
According to the Judiciary, the exceptions will be the Port of Spain District Court and Scarborough District Court.
They continue under the current arrangements, and will instead return to in-person hearings in 2027.
Additionally, 15 Criminal High Courts will be available for in-person hearings from September 1st 2026, including 11 in Port of Spain, three at the Princes Town Judicial Centre and one in Tobago.
As for Masters’ Courts, they will also continue to operate under a hybrid arrangement temporarily, with specific administrative arrangements to be managed at the divisional level.
The Judiciary says the return to in-person hearings follows ongoing work to assess and improve court facilities across the country.
As part of these efforts, Chief Justice, Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, visited court facilities, meeting with court staff and reviewing the condition, functionality, and accessibility of each building.
“As we return to wider in-person hearings, it is important that our court facilities are ready to meet the needs of everyone who uses them. Our visits across the country have given us an opportunity to see the challenges firsthand, listen to our staff, and identify areas that require attention. We are committed to improving the court environment and ensuring that our facilities support the effective delivery of justice,” said the Chief Justice.
Also, despite the return to in-person hearings, the Judiciary says it is committed to the appropriate use of technology in court proceedings, including hybrid hearings, where appropriate.
