Winter Storm Impacts

Sydney

Courthouse delayed opening until noon. Some Supreme Court General and Family Division matters are proceeding virtually, as scheduled. Most Provincial Court matters have been adjourned to another date; Provincial Arraignment Court to be held virtually/by teleconference. Questions can be directed to the courthouse at 902-563-3510.

Sydney Night Court is also cancelled for February 2, 2026, with matters adjourned to Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6 pm. Parties will be notified by court staff.

Webcast of Appeal Hearing

A graphic with the words "Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. Upcoming Webcast. CAC-532854 - Brian James Marriott V. His Majesty the King. Date: 4 February, 2026. Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm. Courts.ns.ca/operations/webcasts."

Members of the media and the public are advised that the following proceeding before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal will be livestreamed on the Courts of Nova Scotia website beginning Wednesday, February 4, 2026:

CAC-532854 – Brian James Marriott Vs. His Majesty the King

In February 2022, Brian James Marriott pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Following an application from the Crown, Mr. Marriott was ordered by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to undergo a forensic psychiatric assessment to potentially be declared a dangerous offender. In March 2024, that Court found Mr. Marriott met the criteria and designated him a dangerous offender and imposed an indeterminate sentence.

Mr. Marriott is appealing the designation and sentence and asserts the sentencing judge erred in the admission and use of expert and other evidence, misapplied the dangerous offender criteria, and should have imposed a finite sentence.

This appeal hearing is scheduled for a half day, starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. It will be heard by a three-member panel comprised of Justice David P.S. Farrar, Justice Anne S. Derrick, and Justice Carole A. Beaton.

The public can watch the livestream on the Courts of Nova Scotia website here.

As per the Nova Scotia Courts’ copyright policy, webcasts of court proceedings may not be broadcast or re-broadcast by embedding them in another website or by any other means. However, portions of the webcasts (audio and video) may be re-broadcast as part of conventional news coverage. Hyperlinks to the live webcast page and the page of archived videos on the Courts of Nova Scotia website are permitted.