Nova Scotia’s first dedicated bail court having ‘positive impact,’ chief provincial court judge says

Nova Scotia’s first dedicated bail court has been operating at the Spring Garden Road courthouse in Halifax since mid-June. Photo by Stephen David BruceArticle contentNova Scotia’s first dedicated bail court, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing backlogs and delays in the provincial court, has been running in Halifax since June.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentA provincial Justice Department news release Friday said the bail court, located at the courthouse on Spring Garden Road, is currently hearing Halifax matters both in person and virtually and will soon expand to handle matters from Dartmouth.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentBail hearings from other districts in the province will be added over the next several months, the release said.Article content“Reducing backlog is a high priority for the department, the judiciary and our justice partners,” Justice Minister Becky Druhan said in the release.Article content“By consolidating bail matters in one court, we are making the system more efficient and freeing up valuable court time for trials and other proceedings. This creates better opportunities for cases to be heard in a timely way, which strengthens fairness in the system and supports confidence in our courts.”Article contentPreparations for the new court involved adding space and investing in staff and technology to support virtual hearings, the release said. A new provincial court judge was also appointed.Article contentRecent investments in Nova Scotia Legal Aid, justices of the peace and new Crown attorneys are helping to manage bail-related casework, the government said.Article contentArticle content“In the first two months, we’ve already started to see the positive impact a dedicated bail court has on scheduling and the efficient operation of the provincial court,” Chief Judge Perry Borden said.Article content“By moving bail hearings to a single courtroom, valuable court time is made available to schedule other cases more quickly. I am confident this new court will have long-term benefits for all parties appearing before provincial court.”Article contentFrom mid-June to Aug. 20, the bail court sat for 47 days and considered bail applications from 253 people, according to the release.Article contentThere are now seven courtrooms operating at the Halifax provincial courthouse.Article content