SOME OF THE MEASURES HAPPENING IN COURTROOMS
• If you are not in custody and you have a criminal court appearance in the provincial court between March 19 and May 31, you should not attend court. Court staff will be in touch with counsel and self-represented individuals about rescheduling. If you feel your matter is urgent, contact the courthouse by telephone.
• Communal water jugs and disposable cups will no longer be provided in any courtrooms.
• The province is increasing cleaning protocols inside courtrooms and secure and common areas.
• This term’s docket for the Court of Appeal will be reviewed to determine if there are any matters that must proceed due to their exceptional circumstances. Parties in those matters will be contacted and advised of alternative procedures to permit the appeal to be heard without the parties or counsel having to appear in person.
• Upcoming jury trials in the Supreme Court are postponed for a period of 60 days. The situation will be reevaluated after that period.
• Until further notice, all civil weddings at the courthouses are cancelled. Individuals looking to get married outside a courthouse can find a list of Justices of the Peace who perform wedding ceremonies on the Department of Justice website.
• For many matters presently before the provincial court, efforts are being made to adjourn the next appearance until after May 31.
• Accused individuals representing themselves in court are encouraged to appear by telephone or via duty counsel with Nova Scotia Legal Aid to request an adjournment of their case until after May 31.
• All matters in the Small Claims Court across the province will be adjourned to June. Court staff will be in touch about rescheduling.
• The Nova Scotia Courts are continuing to monitor updates and advisories from public health officials and will make decisions regarding court proceedings and services with this information in mind. Further notices will be posted through the courts’ website (www.courts.ns.ca) and social media.
• Contact information for all courthouses can be found on the Courts of Nova Scotia website: courts.ns.ca.