Charlotte County court closure fight faces key decision

A Court of Queen's Bench judge will deliver a written decision on Thursday in the battle over the future of two Charlotte County courthouses.

Justice Terrence Morrison will rule on a motion by the provincial government to dismiss an attempt by lawyers in Charlotte County to keep courthouses in St Stephen and Grand Manan open.

• Charlotte County court fight could be affected by Saint-Quentin decision
• Charlotte County lawyers launch legal action to stop court closures

If Morrison dismisses the provincial government'smotion, the two sides will be back in court on Tuesday.

At that time, the Charlotte County Barristers' Society will ask for an injunction to have the courthouses reopened until a judicial review of the original decision to close them can be held.

Courts in Charlotte County closed last week.

The New Brunswick government announced the closure of four small courthouses in the March 31 budget as a part of several cutbacks to reduce the province's deficit.

This isn't the first group to try and reverse a government decision through the courts.

Parents, who were upset that the provincial government allowed the closure of two Saint John-area schools, went to court to keep Brown's Flat and Lorne Middle schools open. The Court of Appeal dismissed their legal fight.

Now, the northwestern community of Saint-Quentin is taking the provincial government to court in order to keep its Service New Brunswick office open.

The closure of the SNB office in Saint-Quentin means residents will have to drive 18 kilometres to Kedgwick to pay their property taxes, renew their car registrations and obtain other government services.