Ontario Court of Justice Update

The Ontario Court of Justice has issued an Order pursuant to s. 85 of the Provincial Offences Act extending timelines until September 7, 2021 relating to POA appeals under the Act that would have expired on or after March 15, 2020. Prior to September 7th, 2021, only urgent POA appeals to a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice will be accepted for filing.

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee has advised it is inviting applications for a judicial position in Halton presiding over criminal law matters. The minimum requirement to apply to be a Judge in the Ontario Court of Justice is ten years completed membership as a barrister and solicitor at the Bar of one of the Provinces or Territories of Canada.

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee has advised it is inviting applications for 2 judicial positions in Sudbury presiding over criminal and family law matters (approximately 50% criminal and 50% family matters). The posting reads: "Applications must be on the current prescribed form and RECEIVED BY 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2021.

The Red Lake Courthouse (located at 115 Howey Street) has been approved to resume in-person operations effective February 8, 2021. MAG has approved the courthouse for in-person proceedings based on its readiness verification process and site assessment.

LAO will double compensation for bail hearings for block fee and tariff matters in recognition of longer bail hearings. 

The OCJ has announced a new pilot project in Ottawa involving Enhanced Designations of Counsel. Effective February 1, 2021, this pilot project will allow accused persons whose counsel have filed an Enhanced Designation of Counsel to have their matters adjourned to the next court date without the matter being addressed in court. For more information, please see the Practice Direction.

Chief Justice Lise Maisonneuve of the OCJ has made an Order pursuant to s. 85 of the Provincial Offences Act. This Order extends the timelines related to POA appeals under the Act until April 12, 2021. This Order also states that POA appeals to a judge of the OCJ that were scheduled between March 16, 2020 to April 9, 2021 will be adjourned. For more information, please see the Order. 

In lights of the Ontario government’s new emergency orders, the OCJ has revised the COVID-19: Scheduling of Family Law Matters at the Ontario Court of Justice. The new Scheduling of Family Law Matters directive eliminates the reference to certain appearances being presumptively in person and waives the requirement to file sworn documents, beyond unsworn affidavits of service. Electronically signed documents are acceptable for filing. 

The OCJ has revised its May 19th Notice to Counsel/Paralegals and the Public regarding Provincial Offences Act matters in the OCJ. Beginning on January 25, 2021:

The OCJ has amended its October 22nd Notice regarding the further expansion of virtual criminal case management courts. These case management courts will launch in select locations on the following dates: