COVID-19 Criminal Adult
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
Procedures
Starting September 8, 2020, trials and preliminary hearings resume across the province in all locations if the hearing can proceed safely and in accordance with Alberta Health Services guidelines. For information regarding resumption dates in specific regional courts, please refer to the Practice Notes associated with those court locations.
Remote Dockets: Case Management Offices (CMO's) reopened remotely on July 6, 2020, and all presumptive adjournments came to an end. No in-person attendance is permitted at most base and circuit locations unless there is prior approval of the Court or the specific Regional Protocol allows it. Counsel and out of custody self-represented litigants must continue to appear remotely for docket appearances at court locations with CMOs and those without CMOs in accordance with the Case Management Office (CMO) and Out of Custody Docket Court Resumption Protocol. Some Regions may allow limited personal docket appearances by an accused. Please refer to the specific Regional Court Resumption Plans below for more information.
Pre-Trial Conferences: Pre-Trial Conferences will continue to be conducted remotely on all matters scheduled for one-half day or longer between now and the end of the calendar year.
Judicial authorization applications: The Court will continue to hear judicial authorization applications either through the Hearing Office, by attending in Provincial Court Judges’ Chambers at a base location or in Edmonton through the Edmonton Digital Judicial Authorization Rule and Protocol.
Criminal Fines (Adult & Youth): Applications for extension of time to pay for payment on criminal fines will be accepted by the Provincial Court via mail, email, fax or telephone.
Criminal Fine Extension Process
For further information regarding specific court locations, their protocols and practices, see the following links:
Practice Notes
Provincial Court Pandemic Plan - COVID19
Announcements