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Courthouse reduces in-person services to combat COVID-19

The Provincial Court of Alberta, which includes the Airdrie courthouse, has limited its regular operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As of March 17, if you have a family, civil, criminal court, a provincial offences [or] traffic court appearance in the Alberta Provincial Court, you do not need to attend unless the matter is an in-custody or urgent criminal matter, or an urgent family or child protection matter,” read an announcement on the provincial court’s website.

“No members of the public will be permitted in courtrooms unless they are required for a court matter, [such as] parties, witnesses, media. Legal counsel is permitted access to the courthouse for urgent court-related business.”

Hearings and in-court appearances that were suspended between March 17 and 22 will be rescheduled for 10 weeks after the date of the originally scheduled court appearance, according to the announcement, or the next court date thereafter.

“Do not come into a courthouse in person if you have been advised to self-isolate by public health officials, your doctor or the Alberta Health Services website,” the release stated.

Other changes include civil matters being adjourned indefinitely, with the exception of pre-trial conferences and case management that are set to proceed before May 22. The local trial co-ordinator or the court will contact parties about rescheduled dates, the announcement stated, while civil pre-trial conferences and case management will be conducted by telephone.

All in-custody criminal matters will proceed, including bail hearings, preliminary inquiries and trials, youth criminal sentence reviews and sentencing with a priority given to those facing a time served situation.

Urgent landlord and tenant matters and other urgent matters will proceed with leave of the court, the announcement read.

“Parties may contact the Civil Division regarding scheduling by calling their local courthouse, or in Edmonton at 780-644-7638; and in Calgary at 403 297-7219,” the release stated.

Changes to cases regarding family and child protection were also announced, including the adjournment for 10 weeks of non-urgent family matters that were set to be heard after March 17.

Family cases that are deemed urgent will still be heard by the court, including matters with statutory limitations or deadlines, apprehension orders, warrants, emergency protection orders and initial custody hearings.

Cases where there is risk of violence or immediate harm to one of the parties or the child, or where there is risk of removing a child, will also be heard.

“Family pre-trial conferences, child protection case management meetings and judicial dispute resolutions will be conducted by telephone unless adjourned,” the announcement read.

Traffic courts in Alberta, meanwhile, are also closed, effective March 17.

“If you have an appearance, trial or application scheduled during the closure, do not attend court in person,” the announcement stated.

People with traffic violations who do not dispute their ticket but need time to pay, who wish to adjourn the matter, or who wish to plead not guilty and set a trial date, are asked to contact the court handling their matter by phone, email or fax.

“If you fail to contact the court handling your matter on or before your scheduled appearance, trial or application date, you may be convicted in absence or a warrant may be issued for your arrest,” read the announcement. “If you are convicted in absence, you may be subject to a late payment charge.”

Fine payments can be made online at bit.ly/2XkZVfs, by mail to the Provincial Traffic Production Centre in Calgary, or through an Alberta Registry Office.

The Airdrie courthouse holds sittings every Tuesday and Thursday.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.

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