[O. 64, rr. 1-2

ORDER 64

TERMS, SITTINGS, VACATIONS AND OFFICE HOURS

1. (1) The terms of the Court of Appeal and of the High Court shall be three in every year, that is to say:

(2)Any day specified in paragraph (1) as the day on which a term is to begin or end shall be included in that term:

Provided that if the 3^rd January, 11^th January, the Monday following Easter Monday or the 16^th September, falls on a day when the offices of the Supreme Court are closed, any term which begins on any such day shall begin on the day next following when these offices are open; and if the Thursday before Easter, 31^st July, 19^th December or 21^st December falls on a day when the offices of the Supreme Court are closed, any term which ends on any such day shall end on the last day preceding that on which these offices are closed.

2. (1) The sittings of the Court of Appeal shall be held in Port-of-Spain, San Fernando and Scarborough on such days in each term when the offices of the Supreme Court are open as the Chief Justice may direct:

Provided that if the Chief Justice for reasons of urgency so authorises, a sitting of the Court of Appeal may be held on a day in a term when the offices of the Supreme Court are normally closed or on any day during a long or short vacation.

(2) Notice of each sitting shall be published by the Registrar in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette at least ten days before the date appointed for the commencement of the sitting.

(3) The Registrar shall on the publication of the said notice in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette post up on the Notice Board of the Court the cause list of the sitting:

Provided that the Court may in its discretion hear any appeal and deal with any other matter whether or not the same has been included in such cause list so published.

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule shall not apply to the hearing of any matter by a single Judge.

(5) Sitting of the High Court in Port-of-Spain and San Fernando shall be held on such days in each term when the offices of the Supreme Court are open as the Chief Justice may appoint;

Provided that if a Judge of the High Court for reasons of urgency so authorises, a sitting of the High Court may be held on a day in a term when the offices of the Supreme Court are normally closed or on any day during a long or short vacation.

(6) Sittings of the High Court in Scarborough, Tobago shall be held on such days in such term and on such days during a long vacation as the Chief Justice may appoint:

Provided that if a Judge of the High Court for reasons of urgency so authorises, a sitting of the High Court may be held on a day in a term when the offices of the Supreme Court are normally closed or on any day during a long vacation not appointed for a sitting by the Chief Justice or on any day during a short vacation.

[O. 64, rr. 3-9

3. (1) The vacations to be observed by the Court of Appeal and the High Court shall be three in each year that is to say:

(2) Any day on which a vacation, as referred to in paragraph (1), is to begin or end shall be included in that vacation.

4. (1) The Judges to serve as vacation Judges for a long vacation shall subject to paragraph (3) be those of the Judges of the High Court who are not entitled to paid passages for travel abroad or if so entitled have not proceeded abroad during that long vacation.

(2) The vacation Judges shall each serve for such period during the vacation as the Chief Justice may direct.

(3) Any other Judge of the High Court may serve in vacation for a vacation Judge.

5. (1) The vacation Judges, whether sitting separately or as a Court of two Judges may hear and dispose of any cause or matter, or any application made therein.

(2) No order made by a vacation Judge acting as such shall be reversed or varied except by the judge who made the order or the Court of Appeal.

6. (1) Subject to rules 2 and 7 all such applications as require to be immediately or promptly heard shall be heard in vacation by the vacation Judges.

(2) Subject to rules 2 and 7 any party to a cause or matter may at any time before the end of the long vacation in any year, apply by summons to a Judge for an order that the cause or matter by tried or heard during that vacation, and if the Judge is satisfied that there is urgent need for the trial or hearing to take place in the long vacation, he may make an order accordingly and fix a date for the trial or hearing.

7. The Chief Justice shall, with the concurrence of a Judge of the High Court, make rules for the trial and hearing of applications and matters during vacation.

8. (1) In all proceedings before the Court of Appeal or High Court the parties may appear in person or be represented by any person who is entitled to practise as a barrister.

(2) In all proceedings before the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar and in all preliminary and interlocutory proceedings and applications except such as are heard before the Court of Appeal or High Court, the parties thereto may appear in person or be represented and appear by a solicitor alone.

9. The foregoing rules of this Order shall not affect the times of holding criminal sessions in Port-of-Spain, San Fernando or Scarborough and shall not apply in relation to the trial or hearing of causes or matters or applications at the criminal sessions.

[O. 64, r. 10

10. (1) The offices of the Supreme Court shall be open on every day of the year except-

(2) The hours during which any office of the Supreme Court shall be open to the public shall be from the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.