In an effort to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the St. John’s area, and to protect the health and safety of all court users while ensuring respect for the legal rights of accused persons and civil litigants, the St. John’s Provincial Court is adjusting its docket as follows:

• All Youth matters scheduled on plea day at 2:00 pm for the period February 16, 2021 to March 12, 2021, inclusive, will be rescheduled four (4) weeks from the date of the scheduled court appearance or the next court date thereafter.
• All matters set for Courtrooms #5 and #7 at 9:30 am, for the period February 15, 2021 to March 12, 2021, inclusive, will be rescheduled four (4) weeks from the date of the scheduled court appearance or the next court date thereafter.
• All adult and youth criminal trials, hearings, and sentencings (for those accused who are not in custody) for the period February 15, 2021 to March 12, 2021, inclusive, will be rescheduled four (4) weeks from the date of the scheduled court appearance or the next court date thereafter.
• Specialty Courts will proceed via virtual or telephone appearance only. Participants will be contacted.
• The Court will adjourn your matter without you being present using a Court Order called a “bench warrant with discretion” which will require you to attend Court on the new date.
  Your new Court date will be posted on the website when available.
• All in-custody matters will proceed including:
  • Bail hearings;
  • Video appearances from Correctional Institutions at 11:00 am;
  • Sentencings;
  • Preliminary inquiries and trials; and,
  • Youth criminal sentence reviews.
• Wherever possible, the Court will make full use of video and audio technology to effectively address criminal matters involving accused persons who are in custody.
• The Court will be available to process warrants and judicial authorizations.
• Civil matters set to proceed from for the period February 15, 2021 to March 12, 2021, inclusive will be adjourned indefinitely and parties will be contacted by the Court about rescheduled dates.
• Small Claims filings may be made via mail, fax or online (e-filing) at https://provincial.efile.court.nl.ca/
• Traffic Court matters, including Contraventions Act cases, scheduled during the month of March 2021 in St. John’s, will not proceed at this time. Parties with scheduled cases will receive written notification of their rescheduled Court date. Alternatively, please visit the Court’s website for the new date at https://docket.court.nl.ca.
• Fine payments can be made to Fines Administration by phone, online at https://www.gov.nl.ca/pay-online/ or by mail (see back of ticket). Payments may also be made to Provincial Court by mail only. Do not mail cash.
  • Time to Pay extensions, adjournment requests and not guilty pleas can be made by contacting St. John’s Provincial Court by mail, e-mail or fax (709) 729-4319.
  • If you fail to notify the Court of your intention to contest a matter by mail, e-mail or fax you will be convicted in your absence.

The Court will post further information as it becomes available, so please continue to check the Provincial Court website https://court.nl.ca/provincial/ for updates.

Please note that these changes affect St. John’s Provincial Court only. For enquiries, please call (709) 729-1004 or e-mail stjohns@provincial.court.nl.ca.

Media Release – February 12, 2021 – St. John’s Provincial Court