The Provincial Court has provided the following four new notices regarding the rescheduling of court matters due to the continuing Code Red designation. Click each notice for full text and details.
Notice – Rescheduling of Circuit Court Sittings due to COVID-19 (December 11, 2020)
Notice – Rescheduling of Circuit Court Sittings due to COVID-19 (December 11, 2020)
See here for all COVID-19 related court notices and directives
Notice – COVID-19 – Suspension and Restriction of Hearings (November 30, 2020) – This notice is in furtherance to the November 10th notice. “All circuit court sittings throughout Manitoba will remain cancelled until January 4, 2021 or until further notice”
December 1, 2020 – Counter Court (Winnipeg) – “Beginning in January 2021, the Provincial Court will move to a Counter Court model in Winnipeg for all out of custody administrative courts, currently called PTC (Pre-Trial Coordinator) courts.”
“The Counter Court model will improve access to justice and efficiency in the following ways:
Notice – Rescheduling of Adult and Youth out of Custody Matters due to COVID-19 (Winnipeg Centre) (December 2, 2020) – “This Notice addresses matters currently scheduled for December 14 – 31, 2020, which will be adjourned to February 2021 dates.”
Notice – Rescheduling of Circuit Court Sittings due to COVID-10 (December 4, 2020) – “Further to the Notice of November 30 2020, suspending court with respect to all circuit court sittings, the following date changes apply to those circuit courts listed below where matters were scheduled between December 14, 2020 to December 31, 2020. All other circuit court sittings, adjourned by the Notice of November 30, 2020 beyond December 31, 2020 remain as adjourned by that Notice to the dates contained in that Notice.”
Notice – Rescheduling of Adult and Youth out of Custody Matters due to COVID-19 (Regional Centres) (December 4, 2020) – “All matters adjourned as per previous Notices to dates after January 4, 2021 (see Notice dated November 10, 2020 and Notice dated November 16, 2020) are expected to proceed on those January dates. This Notice addresses matters currently scheduled for December 14 – 31, 2020, which will be adjourned to January and February 2021 dates.”
Practice Direction – Remote and Off Site Civil Trials (November 20, 2020) – This direction is provided due to the recent Code Red designation and addresses certain obstacles and limitations that affect scheduled civil trials in the Court of Queen’s Bench. Options for parties, where they have been advised that a trial is being adjourned are provided in the notice.
November 26, 2020 – Court Attire – Replaces the February 10, 2017 notice detailing requirements for wearing formal court attire.
Notice – COVID -19 – Suspension and Restriction of Hearings – Legal Aid Administrative Court (November 24, 2020) – “Further to the Notices of November 10 and 13, 2020, suspending court with respect to all out of custody matters, this will confirm the Legal Aid Administrative Court on December 8, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. courtroom 402 is cancelled with respect to out of custody matters.” Individuals awaiting the appointment of counsel by Legal Aid are encouraged to contact Legal Aid. Counsel appointed to individuals are asked to contact their clients.
Notice – Service of Child Protection Proceedings on Persons in Custody during Pandemic Restrictions (November 18, 2020)
“Prior to the pandemic, a process server might attend the institution to effect personal service. However with Code Red restrictions and the elimination or restriction of visitors to the Correctional Centre, this method of service is not possible.” The notice gives new options and contact information for correctional centres.
Notice – Circuit Court Sitting Replacement Dates Due to COVID-19 (November 18, 2020)
“Further to the Notice of November 10, 2020, suspending court with respect to all circuit court sittings, the following dates reflect the date the circuit should have sat within the suspended period and the date the circuit has been administratively adjourned to.”
Practice Directive – Video Appearances for Trials and Preliminary Hearings in the Provincial Court of Manitoba (November 17, 2020) – “…the Court has developed this Practice Directive to accommodate the remote attendance of a participant at trial or preliminary hearing by video, where appropriate, while maintaining the integrity of the hearing process.” The process for requesting an accused or in custody witness appear by video is provided.
“Further to the Notice of November 10, 2020, suspending court with respect to all adult and youth out of custody matters, the following date changes apply…”
See the full notices for locations and dates.
Regional Centres: Notice – COVID -19 – Rescheduling Adult and Youth Out of Custody Matters -Regional Centres (November 16, 2020)
Winnipeg Centre: Notice – COVID – 19 – Rescheduling Adult and Youth Out of Custody Matters (November 13, 2020)
With regards to the new government measures regarding COVID-19, the Provinical Court and Court of Queen’s Bench have released new notices.
Notice – COVID -19 – Suspension and Restriction of Hearings (November 10, 2020) – “The Provincial Court of Manitoba is once again reducing court operations while continuing to ensure meaningful access to those with urgent matters. Effective Thursday, November 12, 2020, all remaining circuit court sittings throughout Manitoba are cancelled until and including December 11, 2020 or until further notice.” See the notice for more details on in custody, out of custody, child protection, and other court matters.
Notice – Adjustments to Current Scheduling Protocols – November 16 to December 11, 2020 – “With the exception of those judge-alone criminal trials involving accused persons who are in custody, all currently scheduled trials set to proceed between Monday, November 16, 2020 and Friday, December 11, 2020, will be adjourned to administrative lists for rescheduling.”
“All other judicial services currently being offered by the Court of Queen’s Bench by video or audio conference in the areas of criminal, civil, family, and child protection will continue as before, unchanged.”
Masters’ Court – COVID-19 Update (November 12, 2020) – “Due to the entire Province of Manitoba being moved to the critical level (red), effective Thursday, November 12, 2020, the Maintenance Enforcement dockets in Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Morden, The Pas and Thompson will be suspended effective Friday, November 13, 2020, until further notice.”
For a list of all notices and practice directions related to COVID-19 visit manitobacourts.mb.ca/covid-19/.
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