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Archival description
Bar admission case files
Subseries · 1830-1987, predominant 1830-1902
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Sub-series forms part of Case files series and consists of documents presented before the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court at Halifax to demonstrate qualification for admission to the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and thus eligibility to practice law in Nova Scotia. The years from 1830 to 1902 are well represented as it appears the documents were maintained as a unit separate from the general civil case files. With the exception of a few files from 1946, grouped together in the general civil case files, subsequent admissions were not stored separately and are found scattered among the general civil case files. In 1986 the practice of separating the files resumed. Early files contain articles of clerkship in which a prospective barrister was in effect apprenticed to a member of the bar, certificates of good character, certifications of competency and legal knowledge and admission documents. Modern files contain a brief document indicating the applicant's qualifications, including information on where they have articled and their legal education, and an indication that fees have been paid and certificates of moral character have been filed with the Society. Most files also contain a brief biography used to introduce the applicant at the Bar Admission ceremony. Records related to disciplinary matters, such as complaints or even disbarment, were filed with the Bar Admission case file.

Barristers' and other rolls
Subseries · 1781-2010
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

The subseries consists of 16 rolls recording the admission of individuals to the Bar of Nova Scotia and thus to the legal profession within the province. Bar Admission was, and continues to be, through an application to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia made at a sitting of the Court. Upon review of qualification and standing, individuals seeking admission to the Bar were invited by the judge to sign the Roll. The information content of the Rolls is limited to a date and signature of the newly admitted lawyer. The separate legal professional streams of barrister, solicitors, and attorneys were recognised until 1892 through separate admissions, and sometimes separate rolls, After 1892 all admissions have been as Barristers. In 1899 membership in the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society became a condition for practising law in the Province making the Roll both a document recording admission to the Bar and also admission to the Society. While the earlier "Rolls" are large format documents on a single sheet of paper, the 20th century documents are multiple sheets attached to each other or bound into a book-like "Roll" or register

Subseries · 1821-1952
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Series forms part of the Official record books series of the Supreme Court at Halifax sub-fonds and consists of registers used by the Supreme Court at Halifax to index case numbers by plaintiff and defendant as they were assigned. The indexing is chronological and then alphabetical by the first letter of a party's last name. Prior to the start of case numbering in 1861 these registers were used as indexes to the cause books which recorded the commencement of cases. Some subsequent index volumes record case number as well as the page number reference to the cause book. Prior to 1861 the indexes refer only to cause book page numbers. The registers are independent of the cause books for which they act as indexes and have been divided by years for convenience. Indeed, book 14 starts with the notation, "new millennium - new book." Overlapping time periods probably indicate that some volumes were copied to replace others which due to use needed replacement.
In 1928 the court administration office changed to an index card system. Subsequent to 1952 the cards were photographically copied into index books which were microfilmed by the NS Archives in the period 2011 to 2013.

Case files
RG 39 (Pictou) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 5; 1986-550/32-126. · Subseries · 1809-1976
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Pictou series and consists of case files for Pictou County containing summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, depositions, briefs, exhibits, pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, appeals, motions, orders, decisions, verdicts, and transcripts of proceedings, and files relating to the appointment of guardians. The files mainly concern civil lawsuits for the collection of debts and usually only contain information proving the debt. Few criminal case files exist.

From 1884 onwards the cause books serve as an index by plaintiff to case numbers. Prior to 1884 civil cases may be identified in the docket books and cause books. No indexes to criminal cases appear to exist. Files are arranged chronologically. Starting in the 1880s case numbers and docket numbers indicate this order. Prior to this time the cases are arranged within each year alphabetically by plaintiff.

Case files
RG 39 (Hants) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 28; 1996-253/011. · Subseries · 1861-1950
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Windsor series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, appeals, motions, orders, rulings, transcripts of testimony, verdicts, photographs, and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Case files
RG 39 (Lunenburg) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 115; 1992-498/001 to 016; 1994-022/001; 1995-003/001 to 002; 1995-330/001; 1995-356/001; 1997-012/001 to 005. · Subseries · 1806-1989
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Lunenburg County circuit records series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, motions, orders, transcripts of testimony, appeals, motion orders, rulings, verdicts, and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Case files
RG 39 (Cape Breton) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 4. · Subseries · 1826-1932
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Sydney series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, motions, orders, transcripts of testimony, appeals, motion orders, rulings, verdicts, and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions. These records appear to have had some connection with the Supreme Court sitting at Halifax, either in original jurisdiction or as a court of appeal, and although originating in Sydney these records are not necessarily the complete remaining case files of the court sitting at Sydney. Interfiled with case files are a number of dockets, minutes of trials and other generally none case specific court files which have been listed separately in the finding aid.;

Case files
RG 39 (Colchester) "C" Vol. 1 to 58; microfilm 16,566 (index); 1993-441/001; 2007-033/001 to /003; 2007-045/001 to /005, /007, /010, /015, and /018. · Subseries · 1811-1983
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Truro series and consists of Supreme Court case files containing summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, motions, orders, transcripts of testimony, appeals, rulings, verdicts, and other material relating to civil actions and matters.

Case files
RG 39 (Digby) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 31; 1993-272/013 to 021, 030 to 031, 043, 045 to 046, and 048. · Subseries · 1860-1972
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Digby County circuit records series and consists of case files relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions. Case files contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, appeals, motions, orders, rulings, transcripts of testimony, motion orders, rulings, verdicts, and other materials. Matters include the Incompetent Persons Act, guardianship, and the disposition of the real estate of minors. This sub-series is arranged by type of case files and then in chronological order within each type: civil cases; civil and criminal cases; criminal cases; and matters.

Case files
Subseries · 1802-1972, predominant 1860-1899
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Sub-series forms part Circuit records at Annapolis Royal series of the Supreme Court on county circuit sous -fonds of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds and consists of case files that may contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, appeals, motions, orders, rulings, transcripts of testimony, verdicts and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Case files
RG 39 (Guysborough) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 2. · Subseries · 1836-1923
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Guysborough County circuit records series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, motions, orders, transcripts of testimony, appeals, motion orders, rulings, verdicts, and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Case files
RG 39 (Kings) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 34; 1990-303/001 to 010; 1990-344/001; 1991-100/001; 1992-020/001 to 002. · Subseries · 1782-1970
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Kings County circuit records series and consists of case files containing documents filed with the court administration office, or prothonotary, by parties involved in cases, as well as documents generated by the court officers themselves. The case files may contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, appeals, motions, orders, rulings, transcripts of testimony, motions, orders, verdicts, and other materials relating to civil actions and matters, as well as to some criminal prosecutions. The bulk of the files reflect actions commenced to recover debt and are subsequent to a courthouse fire in 1849. Files acquired since 1990 have been subject to an appraisal and scheduling process that has excluded the files dealing with simple debt collection and concentrated on files reflecting non-routine matters which have evidential or significant informational value. This has substantially reduced the number of case files retained. Case numbering, by the court, started in 1884 and has been used as the arrangement order. Earlier, or unnumbered cases were placed in chronological order, and then alphabetically by plaintiff.

Case files
RG 39 (Victoria) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 2. · Subseries · 1852-1888
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Baddeck series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, appeals, motions, orders, rulings, transcripts of testimony, motion orders, verdicts, and other materials relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Case files
RG 39 (Richmond) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 2; Series "J" Vol. 11. · Subseries · 1856-1912
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Arichat series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, "informations" (charges), indictments, motions, orders, transcripts of testimony, appeals, motion orders, rulings, verdicts, and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions. These records appear to have had some connection with the Supreme Court sitting at Halifax, either in original jurisdiction or as a court of appeal. Although originating in Arichat, these are not necessarily the complete remaining case files of the court sitting in Richmond County.

Case files

Series consists of a number of sub-series of case file types found in the records of the Supreme Court at Halifax. These sub-series include: General civil case files and Bar admission case files.

Case files
Subseries · 1807-1994
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Liverpool Queens County series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, motions, orders, transcripts of testimony, appeals, motion orders, rulings, verdicts, and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Case files
RG 39 (Shelburne) Series "C" Vol. 1 to 14. · Subseries · 1816-1942
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Shelburne County circuit records series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, appeals, motions, orders, rulings, transcripts of testimony, motion orders, verdicts, and other materials relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Cause book
1996-282/001 · Subseries · 1923-1977
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Sub-series forms part of Guysborough County circuit records and consists of a cause book that provides a calendar of actions or matters for hearing or trial. Book provides case file numbers, action and proceeding taken, and attending lawyers. Sub-series is arranged chronologically.

Cause book
RG 39 (Colchester) ? · Subseries · 1876-1898
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Truro and consists of an entry book used by the prothonotary, initially, for one year, as a docket book and subsequently to record the commencement of civil suits and their progress by documenting the issuance of summons, the filing of defenses, the receipt and issuance of other documents and often recording the outcome of the suit. In general, the book records the names of the parties, the name of the plaintiff's attorney, the nature of the suit and the amount of damages sought. When a defense is filed, the name of the defendant's attorney is also recorded. The book was also used to control the numbering of cases with a new sequence, designated as A, commencing in 1884.

Cause books
1996-235/001 to /006 · Subseries · 1890-1949
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Annapolis Royal series and consists of cause books recording the commencement of court actions. Each entry records the number assigned to the case, plaintiff and counsel, defendant, nature of the action, and amount of damages and costs sought, if any. The books generally record any documents filed in connection with the cause and identify the defendant's counsel, if a defence is made. Additionally the books may include information about the disposition of the cause. Each volume is indexed.

Cause books
RG 39 (Kings) Series "J" Vol. 4 to 5. · Subseries · 1884-1931
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Kings County circuit records series and consists of cause books recording parties to the case, the dates that documents were filed or issued, the style and nature of the cause, and the amount of damages sought. The plaintiff's counsel is always noted while the defendant's counsel is only occasionally noted. The books may also record the discontinuance of a case, the awarding of a judgment and its satisfaction. The 1884 judicature act mandated some specific record keeping requirements to ensure that cases could be managed in an efficient manner. Although files sometimes exhibited evidence of numbering systems prior to this, the 1884 legislation required the keeping of a cause book that recorded the issuance of case numbers as originating notices were issued by the prothonotary. Some books have an index which can also serve as an access tool to the case files.

Cause books
1996-253/026 to 029. · Subseries · 1897-1962
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Windsor series and consists of books that provide a schedule or calendar of causes to be heard by the court. Each entry records the names of plaintiffs and defendants, their solicitors, and the nature of the actions. Although not indexed exactly in alphabetical order each volume contains a chronological listing under the first letter of the last names of the parties to the case.

Cause books
RG 39 (Pictou) Vol. 1 to 5; microfilm 929. · Subseries · 1820-1905
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Pictou series and consists of of ledgers that record actions commenced in the Supreme Court at Pictou. Most pages are titled similarly to 'writs issued out of the Supreme Court' and record the action sought, the parties involved and their representation, the amount of damages sought and the date the writ was issued, indicating the commencement of a suit. Following the 1884 Judicature Act the format of the ledgers was changed from one line per case to several lines for each case, allowing the books to be used to record all documents received and issued in a case. In addition, cases from 1884 onward are identified with a case number. An index included in the volumes from 1884 onward allows access to the cause book as well as to the case file if one knows the name of the plaintiff.

Cause books
Subseries · 1767-1980
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Sub-series forms part of the Official records books series and consists of books used to record the issuance of documents, such as a summons, capias or occasionally other originating documents such as notices of expropriation, that would start a civil case or cause before the court. Some books, particularly the early ones are titled “original entry books” and record the residence and occupations of parties to a case. Generally the books record the parties, plaintiff’s attorney, the date the originating document was issued and the amount of damages or judgment sought. The books usually record the return of the originating writ indicating the defendant has been served. Indexes are available from 1821 until case numbering commenced in 1861. Starting in 1884 the books record, although perhaps not with great consistency, the issuance and filing of all documents related to a case. Papers filed in connection with application such as Bar Admissions, were also recorded in these books. The sub-series ended in 1980 when another index and case tracking system started.

After case numbering started in 1861 these cause books were used to record the issuance of case numbers, as well as the documents filed in relation to a case, and can serve date based way of locating particualar actions or cases.

Cause books
1991-067/002 Files 11 to 12. · Subseries · 1786-1941: predominant 1884-1941
Part of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Sydney and consists of books used to record the commencement of civil cases before the court through the issuance of summons notifying defendants of the claims against them. With the Judicature Act of 1884 record keeping became more consistent between the venues of the supreme court. Books from this time period record case numbers, parties, representation of the plaintiff and documents issued and filed in connection with a cause. Some of the books were used in verso as cause books for the County Court sitting at Sydney.