NOTICE TO THE PROFESSION AND PUBLIC
NOTIFICATION OF LANGUAGE RIGHTS IN CRIMINAL CASES: NEW JOINT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LANGUAGE RIGHTS BY THE ACCUSED FORM AND PROCEDURE
The Court of King’s Bench of Alberta is committed to ensuring that all accused persons are informed of their language rights.
Starting June 19, 2026, an accused person must complete the Acknowledgement of Language Rights by the Accused new joint form before a trial date will be set in the Court of King’s Bench.
The Court acknowledges that there will be a transition period for trials already scheduled. If the trial has already been scheduled, all accused must complete the new joint form no later than 60 days before the first day of their scheduled trial or appear in Criminal Appearance Court to address the matter.
The form is a joint form applicable in both the Alberta Court of Justice and Court of King’s Bench. If the joint form has already been completed and filed in the Court of Justice of Alberta, it does not need to be completed again in the Court of King’s Bench, unless the accused applies to change their chosen official language of proceedings.
If an accused person has not indicated their chosen official language of proceedings on the joint form or before the Court, the accused will be required to personally attend a pre-trial conference with a judge to ensure that the accused has been informed of their language rights.
The form may be signed electronically.