Please be advised that the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta is commencing a pilot project on September 6, 2016, that results in Family Law Chambers being held each morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday in Edmonton and Calgary. Additional details about the implementation of the pilot project in Edmonton and Calgary are provided below.
The pilot project is a recommendation from the Court's Workload Committee that will afford Queen's Bench Justices reading time for Family Law and other special applications. Questions or concerns regarding the pilot project may be forwarded to Chief Justice Wittmann (in Calgary) or Associate Chief Justice Rooke (in Edmonton).
In addition to changes to the scheduling of Family Law Chambers, as set out below, commencing September 6, 2016, all applications without notice (including consent orders) that fall within a Master's jurisdiction (including substitutional service orders in divorce actions) are to be brought before a Master in Calgary and in Edmonton, rather than in Justice Chambers.
Edmonton
At present, in Edmonton, two Family Law Chambers sittings are held each morning. Effective September 6, 2016 and until further notice, one Family Law Chambers sitting will be held each morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday. Emergency Protection Order Reviews will continue to be heard at 9:30 a.m. Morning Family Law Chambers will continue to commence at 10:00 a.m. and conclude when the morning list is complete (typically, no later than 12:30 p.m.) Afternoon Family Law Chambers will commence at 2:00 p.m. and continue until the afternoon list is complete (typically, no later than 4:30 p.m.). The lists will continue to be capped to prevent overrun. Legal Aid Duty Counsel and Court Generated Order Clerks will continue to be present in both the morning and afternoon sittings of Family Law Chambers.
Counsel and self-represented litigants will have the option of attending either morning or
afternoon sittings of Family Law Chambers. If a Justice presiding in Family Law Chambers is disqualified from hearing a matter, he/she may direct the matter to be heard in the morning sitting of (Civil) Justice Chambers or by the Emergency Duty Justice in a courtroom to be assigned.
Calgary
At present, in Calgary, three Family Law Chambers sittings are held each morning. Effective September 6, 2016 and until further notice, one Family Law Chambers sittings will be held each morning and two (one self-represented and one for counsel represented matters) Family Law Chambers sitting will be held each afternoon, Monday through Friday. Emergency Protection Order Reviews will be heard daily at 1:30 in the same courtroom that Family Law Chambers are heard. Commencing October 3, Emergency Protection Order Reviews will be heard daily at 9:30 in the same courtroom that Family Law Chambers are heard. Morning Family Law Chambers will continue to commence at 10:00 a.m. and conclude when the morning list is complete (typically, no later than 12:30 p.m.). Afternoon Family Law Chambers will commence at 2:00 p.m. and continue until the afternoon list is complete (typically, no later than 4:30 p.m.). Legal Aid Duty Counsel and Court Generated Order Clerks will continue to be present in the sittings of self-represented Family Law Chambers. Litigants attending for self-represented chambers in the afternoon will be directed to attend at Duty Counsel’s office at noon in order to ensure that chambers can begin on time.
The lists will continue to be capped to prevent overrun. If a Justice presiding in the morning sitting of Family Law Chambers is disqualified from hearing a matter, he/she may direct the matter to be heard in the Civil Law Chambers or by the Emergency Duty Justice in a courtroom to be assigned.