Trials resume at Vancouver Law Courts
After lengthy hiatus, proceedings underway with new COVID-19 measures in place
Trials resumed Monday at the Vancouver Law Courts as restrictions that were imposed arising from the COVID-19 pandemic began to be lifted.
In March, the courts suspended their regular operations to protect the health and safety of court users and to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The Vancouver Law Courts, B.C.’s biggest courthouse, remained opened but little was going on beyond a number of urgent criminal, civil and family matters.
A number of B.C. Supreme Court trials started up Monday, but the proceedings were being conducted with new measures aimed at abiding by ongoing health directives.
Outside the courthouse, a table was set up with a sign saying that anyone wishing to enter the building had to use a hand sanitizer that was provided on the table.
Once inside the building, sheriffs were asking people a number of questions, including whether they had any symptoms of COVID-19 or had any contact with anyone infected with the coronavirus.
Signs were posted around the building advising people to maintain physical distancing at all times. Only one person was allowed in each of the normally crowded lobby elevators unless people were from the same household.
Other signs posted outside each courtroom limited the number of people allowed in the public gallery. In one of the smaller courtrooms, with about 20 seats in the public gallery, a maximum of three members of the public were allowed inside.
In another small courtroom, where a drug trial for a man accused of 12 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking was getting underway, a maximum of two people were allowed inside. Both seats in the gallery were taken and several people were waiting outside to get a seat.
Members of the public and media were encouraged but not required to wear masks or protective face coverings when attending court hearings.
In one courtroom, where pretrial proceedings in a murder case resumed, the proceedings began with the Crown and defence advising the judge they did not exhibit any signs of COVID-19.
The judge asked those in attendance whether any participants, including witnesses, would be wearing masks. The lawyers responded that no one was planning to wear masks.
Outside each courtroom where proceedings were underway, several attendants stood by waiting to clean the courtroom after each matter was heard.
Witnesses were being told that if they wished to give evidence under oath rather than by affirmation, they must bring their own Bible or other religious books because such books would not be available.
While many matters were getting underway, some things in the courthouse were still suspended, including jury trials, which are expected to resume in September. The court registry was also not open.
B.C. Supreme Court trials at a number of other courthouses were also expected to get underway Monday.