Jury trials in Saskatchewan postponed into the new year due to COVID-19

The postponement of jury trials in Saskatchewan has been extended.

July trials scheduled to start before March 31, 2021, at Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Court officials said 19 jury trials were on the docket in the first three months of 2021.

“We will continue to adjust our response to the pandemic as necessary, while maintaining the public’s access to the essential services the court provides,” Martel D. Popescul, chief justice of the court, said Monday in a statement.

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Unless brought forward sooner on a judge’s order, postponed matters will be spoken to on the original date the trial was to start.

Accused individuals can re-elect to stand trial by judge only, in which case court officials said the trial will proceed in the scheduled timeframe.

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Matters can also be adjourned to a later date, and the court said adjournments will receive re-scheduling priority.

Anyone who has been summoned for jury selection before March 31 should not attend, officials said.

Trials scheduled to start before the end of the year had earlier been postponed.