Health screening questions expanded at courthouses
SYDNEY — Courthouses across Nova Scotia have expanded the list of screening questions to ensure individuals are aware of the public health exposure alerts and whether they are affected by them.
Public access to courthouses continues to be limited to those people who work in the building, who are involved in a court proceeding, those who have an appointment, and those who have passed the mandatory health screening.
With additional public health restrictions now in place for Halifax and Hants counties, and with the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases in the central zone, all courthouses have expanded the list of screening questions.
“To be clear, no individual will be prevented from entering a courthouse based on where they reside in Nova Scotia. If an individual attending court indicates during the screening process that they may have been subject to exposure, sheriffs will gather further details and refer the matter to the court administrator and the presiding judge for direction,” said Jennifer Stairs, communications director for the Nova Scotia judiciary.
She said to help reduce any risk of exposure, these individuals will be kept outside the courthouse until a course of action is determined.
Counsel and self-represented individuals appearing in another area of the province for court are encouraged to first contact the court ahead of time to ensure the matter is proceeding.
Stairs said the presiding judge has the discretion to decide who can attend court in person and whether virtual appearances should be considered.
Counsel involved with inperson court proceedings are also encouraged to speak with their clients and any witnesses ahead of a court appearance to determine whether they are aware of the public health exposure alerts.
In addition, counsel and self-represented individuals appearing in provincial court must get permission from the presiding judge before having anyone, including clients, attend court in person from outside the province.
This directive now also applies to participants coming from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Stairs said even if a provincial court matter has already been subject to a pre-trial conference or a focus hearing, counsel should contact the presiding judge if planning to bring a participant into court from outside Nova Scotia.
“This direction also applies to individuals charged in Nova Scotia but in custody in another province. Counsel should not bring a transport order to a Supreme Court justice for issuance until they have first obtained leave from the presiding provincial court judge,” said Stairs.
Earlier this year, Nova Scotia amended its regulations to allowing people from outside Atlantic Canada to participate in legal proceedings here without the need to selfisolate for 14 days providing they displayed no symptoms associated with the virus.
“That exemption is still available, but before it can be used in any court, counsel or self-represented litigants must apply to the presiding judge for permission,” said Stairs.
For more information on the preventative measures the Nova Scotia Courts have taken to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, while continuing to hear matters, visit https://www.courts. ns.ca/News_of_Courts/ COVID19_Preventative_ Measures.htm.