Additional changes to policies, scheduling for provincial court systems

Saskatchewan’s provincial courts are updating policies related to scheduling and court appearances.

The update was issued Sunday, replacing the previous two COVID-19 updates in the past week by the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan.

All 13 of Saskatchewan’s provincial court locations will remain open, but access is restricted to only those necessary to proceedings.

The list of those deemed necessary includes counsel, litigants, accused, witnesses, support workers, treatment court workers and members of the media. Court managers and deputy sheriffs can exercise discretion to admit other members of the public, if “deemed crucial.”

Crown and defence counsel have blanket permission to appear by telephone on all matters except trials and preliminary hearings until further notice, as well.

Closed-circuit court locations will remain closed until May 31, with docket court appearances at circuit council, trials and preliminary hearings to be adjourned until after May 31.

In-custody criminal trials, preliminary hearings, sentencing and bail hearings will proceed unless adjourned by the Court. Bail hearings and sentencing matters for in-custody accused will proceed by telephone and/or video unless the Court orders otherwise.

Applications concerning urgent Child Protection matters can still proceed at Provincial Court permanent locations, and local judges will determine whether and how hearings will take place.

All tickets and trials requiring a court appearance at all court locations between March 23 and 31, including Traffic Safety Court, will be adjourned. People are asked to choose from the following three options:

• You may be able to make a voluntary payment. Payments can be made online, by mail to the Fine Collection Branch, Box 5030, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3T9, or by telephone at (306) 787-7821 or toll-free at 1-888-935-5555.
• Contact the local court office by phone for time to pay extensions, time to pay requests and to enter not guilty pleas.
• Tickets will be adjourned to dates 10 weeks or more from your original court date and you will need to appear at that time. You will be able to refer to the Court’s website for your adjourned-to date.

Any other questions regarding tickets are asked to be forwarded to the “relevant” Provincial Court office over the phone.

Current public health orders will dictate the number of people in a courtroom, which is currently at 25 as of Sunday.

They’re asking anyone with symptoms to stay away from court offices and to self-isolate.