COVID-19 Announcements

Effective November 1, 2021, the Court of Appeal will resume in-person proceedings for all appeal sittings and applications before three-judge panels. Full details are included in the attached notice.

Access to all courthouses in Alberta will continue to be restricted in accordance with the Courts’ Notice dated November 27, 2020 until further notice. The mask requirements set out in the Courts’ Notice dated July 3, 2020 will continue to apply to individuals attending at courthouses, subject to the exceptions noted therein. Anyone claiming a medical or disability exemption from the masking requirement must provide proof thereof. For those who do not have a face mask, one can be obtained from perimeter security at the entrance to the courthouse. All current protocols relating to physical distancing and courtroom capacity will continue until further notice.

In light of the ongoing public health crisis caused by the pandemic, access to all courthouses in Alberta continues to be restricted, and masks continue to be mandatory for visitors. Full details are included in the attached notices.

The decision to hold oral arguments electronically during the pandemic has highlighted a challenge during submissions when counsel and self-represented litigants refer the panel to materials in the record before the Court. As a result, commencing February 1, 2021, parties will have the option of filing a Condensed Book as an aid to assist in oral argument in both civil and criminal appeals.

The Alberta Courts are attempting to balance the open court principle with public health priorities. Given the ongoing public health crisis, the Courts are continuing to take proactive preventative measures to protect justice system participants and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Access to all courthouses in the province of Alberta continues to be restricted until further notice.

The purpose of this Notice is to advise that, unless otherwise directed, all proceedings will continue to be heard electronically by videoconference until further notice.

The purpose of this Notice is to confirm that the Court of Appeal will continue to use electronic hearings for all Court proceedings until at least November 1, 2020.

Counsel and self-represented litigants are now required to complete and submit a Confidentiality or Privacy Concerns Form prior to electronic hearings. A fillable e-form and instructions are included in this notice.

This notice provides an update on attendance at electronic hearings, now open to counsel and self-represented litigants, media and the wider public in accordance with the process set forth in this Notice. Also, a reminder of electronic resources available.

The suspension on appellate judicial dispute resolution has been lifted. However, until further notice, appellate JDR, as well as bar admissions, will be conducted through online video conference only.

The Court of Queen’s Bench and Provincial Court are scheduled to increase in-person hearings July 6, 2020. Accordingly, to enhance safe access to Alberta courthouses, effective that day, all persons entering a courthouse in Alberta shall be required to wear a face mask while in any public area of the courthouse subject to the exceptions outline in this notice.

On May 21, Chief Justice Catherine A. Fraser and the Advocates’ Society had a fireside chat to discuss how the Court of Appeal has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, including moving to virtual hearings, and the ongoing work to “digitize” Alberta’s top court.

Canadian Lawyer has surveyed a number of chief justices of courts across Canada on how they are handling the COVID-19 crisis. Here, in the second of the series, Catherine Fraser, Chief Justice of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, answers Canadian Lawyer’s questions about COVID-19’s impact on the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

Update to the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society from Alberta's three courts on the steps being taken to return to more regular sittings for the trial courts in response to the provincial government’s recent relaxation of some COVID-19 restrictions.

Update to the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society of Alberta from Alberta's three courts on the measures being taken to assure the delivery of justice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This notice provides procedural information for participants of electronic hearings, which are being used for all matters as part of the court’s pandemic response plan.

Effective April 1, 2020, the Court of Appeal has adopted the Court of Queen's Bench practice regarding remote commissioning of affidavits.

This notice describes restrictions on access to all courthouses in Alberta due to COVID-19.

This notice outlines the alterations to Alberta court operations due to the Premier’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency.

The Court of Appeal continues to hear appeals, applications and motions but as of March 23, 2020, these are not in person. Details are set out in this notice.