News and Announcements

Further to the January 13, 2023 announcement regarding Court of Appeal operations, the following update is provided.

The Honourable Ritu Khullar will be sworn in as Chief Justice of Alberta on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. in Courtroom 317 at the Edmonton Law Courts, 1A Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta.

Further to the January 4, 2023 announcement regarding Court of Appeal operations, partial power has been restored to the South Tower of the Edmonton Law Courts.

Due to a major power failure yesterday at the Edmonton Law Courts facility, Edmonton Court of Appeal operations are limited at this site today. There will be no Court of Appeal counter service today. E-filing remains active and monitored. Court of Appeal Edmonton hearings scheduled for today will be adjourned, and Edmonton duty matters will proceed virtually at 9:30 a.m.

Further to the January 4, 2023 announcement regarding limited operations, the South Tower of the Edmonton Law Courts remains closed due to a power outage.

The current agreement between the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees includes a provision for Christmas closure. The Court of Appeal of Alberta will be closed on December 24, 2022 through January 2, 2023. On December 29, and 30, 2022 the Court of Appeal will hear only emergency applications. Any material that would ordinarily be filed on those days can be filed on January 3, 2023.

The access policy contained in the Tri-Court Notice of September 21, 2021 setting out access requirements for counsel, service providers and visitors to the secure areas of Alberta courthouses is rescinded effective November 14th, 2022.

The May 2023 Court sitting dates are amended so that the Sentence Appeal Hearings in Edmonton commence on May 24, 2023.

As a result of the demise of the Crown, the name of the Court of Queen’s Bench has been automatically changed to the Court of King’s Bench.

There are a significant number of Forms and Templates posted to the Alberta Court of Appeal’s website and elsewhere that contain references to the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta or Her Majesty the Queen. With the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and section 2.1 of the Court of Queen’s Bench Act, the Court of Queen’s Bench immediately became the Court of King’s Bench. The Alberta government has indicated here that legislation that refers to the Court of Queen’s Bench or Her Majesty will be amended as soon as possible. In the interim period, counsel and litigants are encouraged to adopt the new nomenclature of Court of King’s Bench and His Majesty in filings. However, the Court will continue to accept Forms and other filed documents that refer to the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta or Her Majesty the Queen until further notice.

On behalf of Alberta’s Courts, on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we extend our heartful sympathies to Her Late Majesty’s eldest son, King Charles III, and to all members of the Royal Family.

EDMONTON, JULY 29, 2022 – After 30 years as Chief Justice of Alberta, the Honourable Catherine Anne Fraser, who is also Chief Justice of both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Courts of Appeal, is retiring effective July 30, 2022. Her appointment as Alberta’s Chief Justice on March 12, 1992 marked the first time a woman had been appointed chief justice of a province in Canada.

Effective July 4, 2022, masking, as with social distancing, is no longer mandatory in public areas, including courtrooms, or secure workplaces in Alberta courthouses. However, a presiding Judge or Master may direct either or both masking and social distancing in a particular courtroom where the circumstances so warrant.

Covid-19 prevention measures remain in force.

Effective May 24, 2022, social distancing requirements and related capacity limits due to COVID‑19 will be rescinded in some courtrooms in Alberta as noted below. While social distancing in those courtrooms will no longer be required, it is, nevertheless, still encouraged. We stress that social distancing and capacity limits remain in effect in all Provincial Court courtrooms until further notice. All restrictions in relation to masking, vaccination policies and the current use of Plexiglass remain in effect until further notice.

The open court principle is a hallmark of any democratic society. Public access to court proceedings fosters many fundamental values including public confidence in the judicial system, understanding of the administration of justice and judicial accountability. The open court principle is inextricably linked to the freedom of expression and freedom of the press as protected by s. 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Included within the open court principle is the public’s right to access court records. The Court of Appeal of Alberta will adopt the attached Policy for Public Access to the Court Record on May 2, 2022.