(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alex McCuaig

Alberta Courts

COVID-19 may change Alberta’s court system permanently: Chief Justice

Apr 7, 2020 | 4:25 PM

MEDICINE HAT – The Alberta judicial system is adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic with the province’s Queen’s Bench Chief Justice holding an extraordinary news conference Tuesday stating some changes the courts have been required to make may end up being permanent.

Chief Justice Mary Moreau says all levels of the Alberta court system are prepared for the long haul and the current circumstance will, “effect some real fundamental changes.”

In a 45-minute virtual press availability from the Edmonton, Moreau said the court is hoping to expand its ability to process matters after moving aggressively to suspend or alter a number of services to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The province’s 12 courts of Queen’s Bench have seen many services congregated into four hubs – Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge – hearing and triaging emergency cases following a suspension of most hearings and court appearances.

However, looming large in the background of pending criminal cases is the Supreme Court’s Jordan decision which mandates a 30-month timeline to judicially resolve matters or have them in jeopardy of being tossed.

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“The clock is not ticking,” said Moreau, citing the Jordan decision contains provisions regarding extraordinary situations.

But she did add the current situation could potentially make the backlog of cases which existed prior to the pandemic worse once it’s over. That situation could be mitigated with further changes to provincial and federal legislation that could possibly allow for remote hearings, said Moreau.

One of those changes put in place over the last month was to reduce the need for filing hard copies of court filings and applications.

“Once you take away paper,” Moreau said, “you increase the efficiency of the court.”