Domestic Violence Act, 1996
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Hearing of civil proceedings, etc. |
16.—(1) Civil proceedings under this Act shall be heard otherwise than in public. | |
(2) Where under section 9 the court hears together applications under several enactments, then the court shall as far as is practicable comply with the requirements relating to the hearing of applications under each of those enactments and the other relevant provisions of those Acts shall apply accordingly. | ||
(3) (a) Civil proceedings under this Act before the District Court shall be as informal as is practicable and consistent with the administration of justice. | ||
(b) District Court judges hearing and determining civil proceedings under this Act and barristers and solicitors appearing in such proceedings shall not wear wigs or gowns. | ||
(4) Civil proceedings under this Act before the Circuit Court shall be heard by the Circuit Family Court and, accordingly, the provisions of section 32 and subsection (1) and (2) of section 33 of the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 , shall apply to such proceedings. | ||
(5) The proceedings to which subsections (3) and (4) of section 33 of the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 , apply shall be deemed to include civil proceedings under this Act. |