New King’s Bench Notice

by George Roy | May 6, 2026 | Court of King's Bench, Criminal Law, Notices

May 5, 2026 Re: Detention review hearings under sections 520 and 525 of the Criminal Code

ESTREATALS INVOLVING IN-CUSTODY ACCUSED
Detention review hearings under sections 520 and 525 of the Criminal Code and estreatal hearings when an accused who is in custody at a Provincial Correctional Centre is required to attend will be subject to the following:

• None of the foregoing otherwise alters or changes any existing practice directions or scheduling of these hearings. Applications with supporting materials must still be filed, and applications must still proceed, in the judicial centre in which the matter originates.
• The accused will appear remotely either by video or by teleconference from the institution in which they are located, unless the trial and motion coordinator (for Winnipeg appearances) or the local trial coordinator (for appearances outside Winnipeg) is advised by counsel or a self-represented accused at least five full business days prior to the scheduled hearing date that an accused is to appear at the hearing in person (to permit sufficient time for transportation).
• Counsel for the accused will appear in person in the judicial centre in which the matter originates, unless permission is granted in advance by the presiding judge for counsel to appear remotely and the judicial centre in which the hearing is taking place has the requisite video capacity for counsel to also attend remotely. When appearing remotely, counsel are to contact the coordinator for the judicial centre in which the matter is proceeding to obtain call-in instructions.
• The foregoing is subject to any direction by a judge that an accused is to appear in person.
• This new procedure will begin September 8, 2026. In the Winnipeg Judicial Centre, estreatal hearings, which have typically taken place on the last Monday of the month, will take place on the last Tuesday of the month.

Coming into effect: This Practice Direction comes into effect on September 8, 2026.

See here for all King’s Bench notices and practice directions