Since coronavirus cases began to be detected in our country, increasingly strict measures have been taken each day to prevent the further spread of the disease. The measures implemented by the Ministry of Justice, the Presidency, and the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) are as follows:
1- In-service training for personnel whose training is ongoing will be provided through a distance education model. (24.03.2020)
50,792 courthouse personnel, including court clerks, enforcement directors, and treasurers, will benefit from distance education.
2- Courthouses and Regional Courts of Appeal have transitioned to a duty system where judicial services will be conducted with a sufficient number of judges and prosecutors. Judges and prosecutors have been given the option to work from home. (23.03.2020)
A flexible working period has begun until further notice, except for cases involving detainees and urgent matters. A sufficient number of judges will be designated by the commission president, and a sufficient number of prosecutors will be designated by the chief prosecutor for handling cases involving detainees and urgent matters.
3- Enforcement and bankruptcy proceedings have been suspended. (22.03.2020)
Pursuant to the Presidential Decree, enforcement and bankruptcy proceedings will be suspended from 22.03.2020 to 30.04.2020, excluding enforcement proceedings related to alimony claims, and within this framework, party and procedural actions will not be conducted, new enforcement and bankruptcy applications will not be accepted, and provisional attachment orders will not be executed and enforced.
4- Judges and prosecutors over 60 years of age have been placed on administrative leave. (16.03.2020)
Upon the Presidential Decree, public sector employees over 60 years of age will be considered on administrative leave. An HSK communication stating that the said decision will be applied to all personnel working under the Ministry of Justice, including judges and prosecutors, was sent to courthouses.
5- Weekend notary services have been postponed until further notice, and a duty system has been implemented for notaries. (16.03.2020)
Odd-numbered notaries will provide service one day and even-numbered notaries the next. There will be no interruption of service in districts where there is only one notary.
6- New arrivals at prisons will be held in a special area. (16.03.2020)
Those showing symptoms of illness during preliminary examination will be sent to healthcare facilities for treatment. Those who do not show symptoms will be held in a special area for the period determined by the Ministry of Health. Those who have recently been abroad will be isolated.
7- Open and closed visits at penal institutions have been postponed. However, closed meetings with attorneys may be conducted in emergency situations. (16.03.2020)
Due to the postponement decision, additional telephone rights have been granted to detainees and convicts; they will be able to make phone calls twice a week. Attorney meetings will be conducted with the use of masks and gloves.
8- All group work activities carried out by convicts within the scope of probation and workshop activities have been postponed. (16.03.2020)
9- Letters and books in prisons will be held for 24 hours before being delivered to the relevant individuals. (16.03.2020)
10- Hearings and inspections have been postponed, except for investigations and prosecutions concerning detainee cases and other matters deemed urgent. (13.03.2020)
Through an HSK communication, it was notified to the presidencies of justice commissions of regional courts of appeal and chief public prosecutor's offices that, except for investigations and prosecutions concerning detainee cases and matters deemed urgent, the postponement of hearings and inspections and the use of SEGBIS (Audio-Visual Information System) when deemed necessary would be evaluated by the courts. Following this, the vast majority of courts across the country postponed their hearings until April 14.
11- Special disinfection work for coronavirus has been carried out and continues to be carried out in courthouses, penal institutions, and notary offices.
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Attorney Kadir KURTULUS 