A temporary courthouse opened on Monday in the Plaza de Roberval, replacing the courthouse which had burned down in May 2021.
The temporary courthouse, which will replace the service counter set up after the fire, will provide most court services. Three courtrooms, an interview room, a registry office and the CAVAC will be available.
“For the trials at the assizes, those which require juries, there is no room here, we will have to wait for the new palace”, however indicated Me Jean-Philippe Gagnon, of legal aid.
This is one less headache for lawyers who will no longer have to travel to other courthouses in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. “Forty-five, fifty minutes to go to Alma is not enough time to work on our cases,” argued Me Denis Otis, defense lawyer.
For Crown prosecutors, it is also an advantage. “For the documents, it was complicated, and for the return of the files, very difficult too”, confirmed the Crown prosecutor, Me Marie-Philippe Charron.
The activities will be in the Plaza Roberval until the end of the work at the courthouse, which was engulfed in flames.