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10
NO. 27 OF 2014


signed by a judicial officer and shall bear the seal of the court issuing the same.

Sittings of Family Courts and Youth Courts

9.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), every Family Court and every Youth Court shall sit on every day of the year except on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a judicial officer may lawfully sit on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday or during a vacation authorised under section 38 if—

(a) the Presiding Judge of the Family Justice Courts, with the concurrence of the Chief Justice, has directed the judicial officer to sit on that day or during that vacation; or
(b) in the opinion of the judicial officer, the business to be despatched is extremely urgent.

(3) Every Family Court and every Youth Court shall sit at such times as the Chief Justice may from time to time appoint.

Sittings in camera, etc.

10.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), all matters and proceedings in a Family Justice Court shall be heard in camera.

(2) A Family Justice Court shall have power to hear any matter or any part thereof in an open and public court to which the public generally may have access, if the Court is satisfied that it is expedient in the interests of justice, or for other sufficient reason to do so.

(3) A Family Justice Court may, in any matter or proceeding or any part thereof tried or held or to be tried or held before it, if satisfied that it is expedient in the interests of justice, public safety, public security or propriety, or for other sufficient reason to do so, order that any of the following, which is contained in any court document or intended to be produced before the Court, be removed or be sufficiently redacted:

(a) the name, address or photograph of any witness in that matter or proceeding;