Saskatchewan courts provide COVID-related updates

With COVID-related public health orders now removed, things will be getting back to normal in Saskatchewan’s court system.

Provincial courts are returning to their regular sitting schedules and jury trials in Court of Queen’s Bench are being scheduled to resume in September.

However, some things aren’t changing.

In a statement Monday, Chief Justice M.D. Popescul of the Court of Queen’s Bench said the protocols issued Aug. 31 remain in effect until further notice.

Among those is a directive that all Queen’s Bench court proceedings, other than trials and certain criminal matters, will still be heard by phone unless the presiding judge rules otherwise.

Masks are no longer required to enter a courthouse and social distancing is not necessary, but the justice can still decide that masks should be worn and physical distancing should be practised if they see fit.

As for other changes, people entering a courthouse will no longer be given a COVID assessment, bottled water won’t be given to people in court, and access to Local Registry offices now will be permitted.

However, court participants are still encouraged to communicate with the Local Registrar by phone, and to file documents by fax, mail or dropoff.

At provincial courts, those in attendance can wear a mask if they so choose, and hand sanitizing stations and physical barriers will stay in place.

Counsel or accused without a lawyer can continue to appear by telephone for a docket court appearance, but they’ll have to contact the court office at least two business days prior to the scheduled appearance.