Supplied…
Public health officials have recommended that measures be taken to reduce the amount
of time individuals spend in large crowds or in crowded spaces to help reduce the
transmission of COVID-19 in a community. The Ontario Court of Justice is committed to
ensuring that those with urgent matters continue to have meaningful access to the
court. With that in mind, the Ontario Court of Justice has established procedures to
reduce the number of people who attend court for criminal, family and Provincial
Offences Act matters.
As of Monday March 16, if you have a Provincial Offences Act, family or criminal
court appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice you do not need to attend court,
unless the matter is an in-custody or urgent criminal matter or an urgent family
matter.
Note: Please do not come into a courthouse in person if you have been advised
by public health officials, your doctor or the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH)
website (https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus) to self-isolate.
The court will post further information as it becomes available, so please continue to
check the Ontario Court of Justice website (https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/) for
updates.
CRIMINAL MATTERS – IN CUSTODY ACCUSED
Criminal courts remain open.
The court is committed to ensuring that, wherever possible, criminal matters involving
accused persons who are in custody (including bail matters) that are ready to proceed
are able to proceed.
Wherever possible, the court will make full use of video and audio technology to
effectively address criminal matters involving accused persons who are in custody.
CRIMINAL MATTERS – OUT OF CUSTODY ACCUSED
Criminal courts remain open.
However, if you are not in custody and have a criminal court appearance in the
Ontario Court of Justice between Monday March 16 and Friday April 3, you do not
need to attend court.
If you do not attend court, your matter will be adjourned to another court date 10 weeks
from the date of your scheduled appearance. (To find out what date your matter is being
adjourned to, see list of adjournment dates.) The court will adjourn your matter without
you being present, using a court order called a “bench warrant with discretion” which will
require you to attend court on the new date.
If your matter is urgent, you or your counsel may choose to come to court and speak to
your matter.
If your criminal court appearance is after April 3, 2020, please check the Ontario Court
of Justice website (https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/) for updated information.
If you have questions, please contact your local courthouse. Contact information for all
courts in Ontario is available on the Ministry of the Attorney General
website: https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/Court_Addresses/
FAMILY MATTERS
Family courts remain open.
Urgent family matters will proceed on a prioritized basis. These matters include:
• Child, Youth and Family Services Act: place of safety hearings (s. 90); temporary
care and custody hearings (s. 94), restraining orders (s. 137), status review
hearings (s. 113), and secure treatment orders (s. 161);
• Domestic matters: urgent custody/access motions; motions for restraining orders;
Hague applications and non-Hague abduction cases; and
• Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act: refraining motions
(s.35).
The Family Law Rules permit conferences and/or motions to be heard by telephone
and/or video conferencing. Where necessary and/or appropriate, these matters can be
heard using one of these methods.
All non-urgent matters, including trials, will be adjourned for 8-12 weeks. If you have a
non-urgent family matter, you do not need to attend court. Adjournments requests
can be made to the local Trial Co-ordinator’s office, preferably by 17F confirmation
forms forwarded to a fax number or by telephone. Contact information for all courts in
Ontario is available on the Ministry of the Attorney General
website: https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/Court_Addresses/
PROVINCIAL OFFENCES ACT MATTERS (e.g. TRAFFIC TICKETS)
Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled from Monday, March 16, 2020 through and
including and Friday, April 3, 2020 will be adjourned without you being present and
rescheduled to a later date. If you have a matter scheduled during this time, you do
not need to attend.
A notice of your new court date will be sent to you by mail to the address on file with the
court. For more information, please contact your local Provincial Offences court.
Contact information for all municipal courts is available here:
https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/Court_Addresses/poa/
List of Adjournment Dates for Criminal Matters
If your matter is scheduled for…. Your matter is adjourned to
Monday March 16 Monday May 25
Tuesday March 17 Tuesday May 26
Wednesday March 18 Wednesday May 27
Thursday March 19 Thursday May 28
Friday March 20 Friday May 29
Monday March 23 Monday June 1
Tuesday March 24 Tuesday June 2
Wednesday March 25 Wednesday June 3
Thursday March 26 Thursday June 4
Friday March 27 Friday June 5
Monday March 30 Monday June 8
Tuesday March 31 Tuesday June 9
Wednesday April 1 Wednesday June 10
Thursday April 2 Thursday June 11
Friday April 3 Friday June 12