Saskatchewan. Judicial District of Arcola
- GA 86
- Primary Agency
- 1922-1958
Judicial districts were geographical areas in Saskatchewan over which the courts held legal jurisdiction. Judicial boundaries pre-determined the centre where cases had to be heard. Criminal matters were usually heard in the judicial district where the crime occurred while civil matters were heard where the plaintiff or defendant resided or where the property in dispute was located.
The Judicial District of Arcola was established on May 1, 1922. The geographical area it occupied was previously known as the Judicial District of Cannington. The Judicial District of Arcola was located in the south-east part of the province. The centre of the district was located in the town of Arcola, 60 kilometres north and 40 kilometres east of Estevan. The courthouse in Arcola was constructed around 1908.
Towns and villages located in the judicial district at some point during its existence were Antler; Arcola; Carlyle; Creelman; Forget; Heward; Kisbey; Manor; Maryfield; Parkman; Redvers; Stoughton; Wawota; and Wordsworth.
Courts holding jurisdiction in the judicial district included the Court of King's Bench; the Court of Queen's Bench; the District Court; and the Surrogate Court. Both criminal and civil cases were heard in the judicial district. Criminal offences included arson; robbery; theft; murder; manslaughter; treason; kidnapping; assault; sexual assault; blackmail; extortion and perjury. Civil matters included divorce; contract disputes; foreclosures; the administration of estates of the deceased and probate of wills; small claims (debt) matters and property disputes.
A resident judge presided at various court sittings. Court officials included a local registrar for Court of King's Bench/Queen's Bench; a Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the District Court; a Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Surrogate Court; a sheriff and deputy sheriff; court reporter and process issuers (servers). Local registrars processed court documents; received documents for filing; kept accounting records and acted as clerks of the court at all courtroom and chamber sessions. Sheriffs executed court orders; served legal documents and enforced statute orders.
In 1958, all existing judicial districts were abolished and the province of Saskatchewan became one judicial district with twenty-one judicial centres. The Judicial District of Arcola became the Judicial Centre of Arcola.