REVISED COVID-19 OPERATIONAL PLAN
ISSUED JULY 29, 2022
LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS

Effective Monday, August 1, 2022 and until further notice, the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador will lift its restrictions including capacity limits and physical distancing requirements. The public will have access to the courthouses; however, the presiding judge may limit access to the courtroom.

IN-CUSTODY ACCUSED
Arraignments, judicial interim release (bail) hearings and sentencings may be conducted inperson but the use of audio and video technology is encouraged. The Accused will continue to attend their trials or preliminary inquiries in-person unless otherwise ordered by the judge.

PERSONS NOT IN-CUSTODY
If you are scheduled to appear in Court (first appearance, trial, preliminary inquiry, sentencing hearing or other hearing, or to vary an existing order), and you are not represented by counsel, you must appear in Court on your scheduled date. Please refer to the Provincial Court Docket at https://docket.court.nl.ca/ for instructions on how to access your new Court date.

PARTIES REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL
Counsel are encouraged to file all applications electronically but in-person applications will be accepted. Counsel are also encouraged to file designations of counsel where applicable. For individual appearances by counsel, CourtCall may be used. Please contact the local courthouse as to whether a toll-free conference number is available.

VIRTUAL COURT
The Court will maintain its capacity to conduct virtual court. Parties are required to make an application for use of virtual court.

WEEKEND AND STATUTORY HOLIDAY COURT (WASH)
Current WASH court procedures remain unchanged. The general public will not be permitted to attend. All parties, including the Accused, will appear by audio or video technology. Media may attend using audio technology.

MASKING
Masking inside the public areas of the courthouses is strongly encouraged. Masking inside the courtrooms is also strongly encouraged but will be at the discretion of the presiding judge.

PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES
If you are experiencing a COVID-19 related symptom, do not attend Court. You must contact the Court by telephone in advance of your scheduled appearance. (The number is listed below). Please visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/ for the most recent and up-to-date information relating to COVID-19, including the self-assessment tool.

UPDATES
Court operations will be monitored to ensure optimal service during these challenging times. Any changes will be posted on this website, https://court.nl.ca/provincial/.

THE FOLLOWING CHANGES APPLY TO ST. JOHN’S

• Overnight arrests will be brought over from the SJLU to the Holding Cells in Atlantic Place as per pre-COVID-19 procedures;
• Fresh arrests are to be taken to the Holding Cells unless the person is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms;
• Courtrooms 5 and 7 will revert back to pre-COVID-19 operations;
• As capacity restrictions are lifted, the elevator in Atlantic Place by POE1 will return to pre-COVID-19 operations;
• If a judge requires persons to be masked in their courtroom, the Court Officer will place a notice on the outside of the courtroom indicating that a mask must be worn inside the courtroom;
• While the capacity restrictions are being lifted, the 6’ distancing stickers will remain in place inside the courtrooms should a judge decide to use them.

COURTHOUSE CONTACT INFORMATION
Enquiries can be made to the local Courthouse, as follows: