Prince Albert Court of Queen's Bench. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Courts and COVID-19

Restrictions in place at Sask. courts in response to COVID-19

Mar 16, 2020 | 11:38 AM

Jury trials and other scheduled matters at Saskatchewan courts are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Courthouses remain open to the public and media, but visits from classes and other groups have been cancelled effective immediately.

Any person with a scheduled matter including trials, pre-trial conferences and hearings are encouraged, where appropriate, to adjourn those matters to a future date. Arrangements are being made for individuals in custody to appear by video.

All jury trials at Court of Queen’s Bench or provincial court, scheduled to commence between March 16 and May 30, 2020, will be postponed. Any person who has been summoned to attend court for jury duty for a matter scheduled before May 30 are not to attend court.

In relation to matters involving family matters, all participants in regularly scheduled applications (other than child protection chambers) are required to attend by phone. Participants are expected to be available by phone at the commencement of chambers until they are called.

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(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

At this time, there are no plans to cancel or reschedule Court of Appeal proceedings. However, all lawyers and self-represented individuals slated to appear in matters before the court are being notified that they may make their submissions by way of telephone rather than in person.

The court registrar offices are staying open but access is restricted and queries are being encouraged to be made by phone as opposed to in person. Any documents that requires filing, should be placed in an envelope and delivered either to a drop box located in the hallway (where available) or on the counter of the local registrar’s office.

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panews@jpbg.ca

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