COURTS OF SASKATCHEWAN

Access to Court Records

Court Resources

Court offices regularly receive requests from the public, media, lawyers, and others seeking access to court records. To help manage these requests, the Courts have developed guidelines that summarize how court officials will respond to the most commonly encountered access requests.

The document “Public Access to Court Records in Saskatchewan: Guidelines for the Media and the Public” recognizes that public understanding, respect, and confidence in the administration of justice can be increased by facilitating media and public access to court records.

There is a wide range of requests for court records received by the courts every day. They differ in their nature and the records involved. It would be impossible to anticipate all of the types of requests. The guidelines summarize how court officials can be expected to respond to the most commonly encountered access requests.

The Access Guidelines also serve as an informative and educative tool for those wishing to better understand how the court system operates and how it implements the open-access principle. While they provide administrative direction in situations where there is no court order in place, the guidelines do not have the force of law and are subject to the decisions of individual judges and courts.

Download the document:

• Public Access to Court Records in Saskatchewan:Guidelines for the Media and the Public

When making your request for access to court records, you may be asked to complete and submit a Request for Access to Court Records form (Updated). This form helps court staff understand the nature, scope, and purpose of your request. It can also be used to take your request forward to a judge, if necessary.

Access requests should be made to the court office where the matter was heard. Find a list of offices, along with their contact information, here:

• Provincial Court
• Court of King’s Bench
• Court of Appeal

Media seeking access to exhibits entered in a criminal trial in the Court of King’s Bench are asked to use this Request by Media for Exhibits in Criminal Proceedings form.

The form should be submitted to the Clerk of the Court (during the course of the trial) or to the Registry Office where the matter was heard if the trial is complete.