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Counsel List for Proceedings at Circuit Point Locations
June 16, 2021Court Security Deputy Sheriffs are responsible to conduct COVID screening and monitor COVID protocols at all court facilities in the province. As such, any time the Court convenes an in-person matter, Court Security Deputy Sheriffs will be on site to manage foot traffic into the facility.
Throughout the pandemic, Court Services has instituted a policy to direct and prioritize the flow of foot traffic into each court facility. The same policy applies for circuit point locations which, as of June 21st, will be re-opened for the purpose of convening in-person preliminary hearings and trials. Many circuit court locations are constrained for space, and appropriate physical distancing must be maintained at all times.
As part of the circuit re-open plan, counsel is asked to contact the Court Security Deputy Sheriffs by noon the day before the matter and provide a list of specific people who are expected to attend the court facility. This list must include:
- party to a proceeding/the accused/persons of sufficient interest;
- witnesses, including the timeframe that the witness is expected to attend;
- complainants and support persons;
- support persons, including family members and other personal supports; and
- support workers, where that information is available
In the event the appearance is in out of custody docket where the Court has otherwise encouraged counsel to appear by phone and to advise their client to not attend if counsel will speak to their matter for them and a designation has been filed, counsel must advise Court Security Deputy Sheriffs if the client is required to attend in person or if counsel attends to appear in person.
The notification should indicate the circuit point the matter is set to be heard as well as the time the person is expected to attend. We also ask that counsel assist by staggering the attendance of witnesses at the courthouse based on when their evidence is set to be heard, and to also advise if there are particular sensitivities related to the attendance of certain individuals.
Counsel is asked to relay this information to the contacts listed below as soon as it is available, though no later than noon the day before the expected attendance.
Regina, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Estevan, Yorkton, and Wynyard (as well as related circuit point locations)
regina.security/[email protected]
Saskatoon (as well as related circuit point locations)
Prince Albert, Melfort, La Ronge, Meadow Lake (as well as related circuit point locations)
North Battleford and Lloydminster (as well as related circuit point locations)
Court Security Deputy Sheriffs have been advised that, should a person not be permitted to enter a courthouse due to their responses to the COVID screening or because their attendance cannot be accommodated given the number of people previously admitted to the courthouse or courtroom, court staff in the courtroom will be advised. Deputy Sheriffs have also been advised to not publicly relay the purpose of the person’s attendance at court.
The referenced policy separately addresses the attendance of self-represented litigants, though if opposing counsel does have information on a matter set to proceed it would be helpful if that were relayed as well.
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