Saskatchewan’s courtrooms are quickly turning into ghost towns, as the province’s law community reduces its court operations due to the coronavirus.
Moose Jaw provincial court had barely a handful of people in courtroom 1 on March 18, with the lawyers outnumbering everyone else. Many signs were posted on doors of different offices indicating users or potential clients should call or email the office if legal services were required.
The Saskatchewan Law Courts’ website has provided an update about how the court system is handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Provincial courts specifically are reducing operations to protect the health and safety of court users and contain the spread of the virus, the website explained. However, meaningful access to courtrooms will still be available for people with urgent matters.
“Cleaning protocols have been increased inside courtrooms as well as secure and common areas of the court facilities. All persons in court facilities are asked to co-operate with recommended handwashing and use of hand sanitizer practices and ensure social distancing by keeping one to two metres of space between yourself and other individuals,” the website said.
Effective Monday, March 23, access to provincial court courthouses in Saskatchewan will be restricted to only those persons who are necessary to the proceedings before the court. This includes counsels, litigants, accused, witnesses, support workers, treatment court workers, and the media.
People showing COVID-19 symptoms
No one who is experiencing any COVID-19-related symptoms or who has been advised to self-isolate should attend court, the website advised. Persons who fall within that category and who have scheduled court appearances, including those who have been subpoenaed, are to immediately contact the appropriate court office or, if not available, the provincial prosecution office for directions.
In Moose Jaw the provincial court office can be reached at 306-694-3612, while the Court of Queen’s Bench can be reached at 306-694-3602.
Criminal matters: in-custody accused
All 13 permanent provincial court locations will remain open. The scheduling and hearing of in-custody criminal trials, preliminary hearings, sentencing, and bail hearings will proceed unless adjourned by the court by its own motion or from an application by the party.
Wherever possible, the court will use video and audio technology to effectively address criminal matters involving accused persons who are in custody. If possible, bail or sentencing hearings will be conducted by use of video/audio conference, unless the judge directs otherwise. Lawyers are urged to appear by telephone on behalf of their clients, with arrangements to be made in advance.
Criminal matters: non-custody accused
Effective March 23, trials and preliminary hearings for accused who are not in-custody will be adjourned to after May 31. Where feasible, lawyers are encouraged to arrange early appearances in docket court.
Police will make all new first appearances returnable after May 31.
Those matters already scheduled will still be spoken to at that docket time and date, except that judges will be urged to use video and audio technology. Lawyers are urged to appear by telephone for their clients, with arrangements made in advance. If further adjournments are requested, matters will be adjourned to dates after May 31.
People without lawyers should call the court ahead of the scheduled date to arrange to appear after May 31. If you do not appear on the new date you may be arrested.
Provincial tickets
All tickets and trials requiring court appearances — including Traffic Safety Court — between March 23 and May 31 will need to be adjourned. You can:
- make a voluntary payment online, by mail, or by telephone at 306-787-7821 or toll-free at 1-888-935-5555;
- ask for time to pay extensions, to pay requests and enter not-guilty pleas by contacting the court office by phone.
For more information visit https://sasklawcourts.ca.
