Courts in Saskatchewan are continuing to reduce their operations as they try to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.
All court appearances regarding tickets and trials, including Traffic Safety Court, between March 23 and May 31 will be adjourned. People can make voluntary payments of their tickets online or by mail.
Extensions on payment times and pay time requests and non-guilty pleas can be made by contacting the local court office by phone.
Tickets will also be adjourned to 10 weeks or more from a person’s scheduled court date and they can refer to the court’s website for the adjourned date.
Beginning on March 23, access to provincial courthouses in Saskatchewan will be restricted to only persons who are necessary for court proceedings. Circuit courts will be closed beginning March 23 and are being adjourned to dates past May 31.
This includes counsel, litigants, accused, witnesses, support workers, treatment court workers and members of the media.
No one who is experiencing any COVID-19-related symptoms or has been advised to self-isolate should attend the courthouses.
People who fall into that category who have a court appearance, including those who have been subpoenaed for court, are to immediately call the appropriate court office or provincial prosecutions office.
All 13 provincial courts 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 on its own motion or on application by the party.
Wherever possible, courts will make full use of video and audio technology to address criminal matters.
All stand-alone bylaw courts will be closed between March 23 and May 31.