A sign at the Medicine Hat courthouse denotes directions to "Provincial Court" and "Court of Queen's Bench" - two names that will be out of date on Monday. Court of King's Bench has been the proper term since last fall, while a change from Provincial Court to the "Court of Justice" officially takes effect on April 1.--News Photo
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The final docket session of “Provincial Court” in Medicine Hat was held Thursday.
On Monday, the name changes to the “Alberta Court of Justice,” as part of a modernization of the court system in the province, including the process to rename two of the three branches of the judiciary system.
“Over the past five decades, Alberta’s front-line, trial-level court has grown in size and complexity, and has evolved to meet the changing needs of the province and its people,” stated Provincial Court Chief Justice Derek Redmond at the time of the October 2022 announcement. “We have asked for this new name to reflect that growth and that evolution.”
The Provincial Court system was established in 1978, combining previous district court, police court, family and juvenile courts.
Last fall, the “Court of Queen’s Bench” transitioned to be named “Court of King’s Bench” automatically when Elizabeth II died and her son, now Charles III, became the Sovereign of United Kingdom and King of Canada.
The Alberta Court of Appeal was created in 1914.
King’s Bench represents the superior trial division – the name used in most other provinces – and handling federal criminal charges, such as those involving narcotics, and civil litigation above certain monetary limits.
Provincial Court is in the middle of a three-year-plan to modernize operations. Rules about electronic payment and appearances were brought in during the pandemic.
For the immediate future, the term “Provincial Court” is still accepted – though participants and legal officials should use proper terminology in proceedings.
The term will still appear on signs and forms at the Medicine Hat court house for the time being.
A general changeover is scheduled to align with physical changes regarding the change from Queen’s Bench to King’s Bench this spring.
At the time of the Queen’s death last autumn, forms and applications, even case names, were allowed to continue using previous “Queen” designation as a matter of practical necessity.
Next month court house signs and all other other references to the female monarch will begin changing over to male following the coronation planned May.
In another change of practice, “judges” of the former Provincial Court will subsequently be known as and should be addressed as “justices” – similar to their King’s Bench counterparts. “Masters in Chambers” who preside over some initial King’s Bench matters will be known henceforth as “Application Judges.”
