COVID-19 taken seriously at courthouse

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This article was published 17/03/2020 (2235 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Manitoba courts restricted access to the public on Monday, staff, court counsel and judges in Brandon made it clear they were taking those restrictions seriously to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Additional sheriffs stood at the front doors of the Brandon court office, ensuring only those scheduled to appear in court were gaining access.

People who were appearing in court were addressed first thing in the morning in order to clear the courtroom of anyone sitting in the gallery.

Most of those in custody were not transported to court, but rather appeared by video to deal with their matters.

When possible, remands were scheduled two months out to mid-June.

“We are trying to reduce the risk of people in this court room, including the accused, being exposed (to COVID-19),” Judge John Combs reminded court counsel.

Combs also took the current circumstances into consideration when hearing bail hearings and dispositions, stating the pandemic was a “significant factor” in whether someone should remain in custody or the length of jail sentence they should receive.

“I see jail as being a place where the spread of this particular virus would certainly be a concern, and in the circumstances, that’s going to be reflected in the penalty I impose,” Combs told the court while sentencing a woman to a period of time served.

The province announced on Friday that access to courthouses, including circuit court locations in Manitoba, would be restricted to only those who are necessary to the proceedings before the courts, such as counsel, litigants accused, witnesses and victim services workers.

Any trials scheduled to proceed by judge and jury prior to June 30, 2020 will not proceed with a jury, but rather be rescheduled or proceed by judge alone.

Jury selections are also cancelled during this time.

Additionally, all public tours, including school visits and mock trials, have been postponed until further notice.

Press and media are still allowed to attend in order to honour the open court principle.

Anyone experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms are asked not to attend the courthouses.

Even more limited access was announced on Monday, when the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench stated it would be limiting scheduled matters to either emergency or urgent matters between March 17 and April 17 in order to act preventatively and proactively to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Trials, voir dires and criminal motions for non-custody matters have been adjourned to a special assignment list scheduled April 16.

In-custody matters will be subject to a special pre-trial conference before a judge to determine whether the trial will proceed or not.

Appearances in the family division are also cancelled with judges hearing emergent matters on a case by case basis.

In Brandon, all general and family division matters that are adjourned will appear in special administrative assignment lists on April 16 and 17.

The Manitoba Court of Appeal, which originally intended to go ahead with hearings as scheduled, has now suspended all appeal and chamber matters up to April 17.

The only exceptions will be urgent matters and matters where all parties consent to having their appeal or chamber matter heard based only on written materials filed with the court.

Provincial court circuit sittings in Manitoba have been cancelled today, as well as adult and youth out of custody court appearances.

For more information and updates, visit manitobacourts.mb.ca or follow @MBCourts on Twitter.

» edebooy@brandonsun.com

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