Digital Transformation of Provincial Court Underway

**** NS Gov Release Digital Transformation of Provincial Court Underway -------------------------------------------------------- A new electronic filing and digital document management system for Nova Scotia’s provincial court will help reduce delays and improve access. Work on the digital transformation will begin immediately and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2027. It will make it easier for judges, lawyers, court staff, police and other partners to file, share, store and access documents securely. “We want to use every tool available to make sure Nova Scotians have timely access to justice,” said Scott Armstrong, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “People come to provincial court at important and often stressful moments. By modernizing how court documents are filed and managed, we can help them move through the system with greater confidence and less delay.” The provincial court operates in 17 courthouses across the province and includes bail court and specialized wellness court programs that focus on mental health, substance use, domestic violence and Indigenous restorative justice principles. The new system builds on work already underway to digitize Nova Scotia’s Court of Appeal, expected to take effect later this year. Quotes: “The pandemic showed us the efficiencies that were possible with electronic filing and management of documents and, after much consultation, research and planning, we are now at the stage to implement these improvements. We are grateful for the government’s ongoing collaboration and commitment to modernize Nova Scotia’s court system.” — Perry Borden, Chief Judge of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court Quick Facts: - in 2021, the Department of Justice and the Nova Scotia judiciary led the creation of a digital task force to digitally transform the provincial court system - in 2025, there were more than 18,000 informations (sworn or affirmed statements commencing a criminal proceeding) laid and 76,000 summary offence tickets issued across Nova Scotia Additional Resources: Nova Scotia Courts Digital Task Force: https://novascotia.ca/nova-scotia-courts-digital-task-force/ News release – Feedback Sought from Justice System Users: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/02/27/feedback-sought-justice-system-users Information on Nova Scotia courts: https://www.courts.ns.ca/