Ontario delays reopening of some courthouses
Monday, September 14, 2020 @ 1:20 PM | By John Schofield
Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General is delaying the resumption of in-person criminal trials and preliminary inquiries at courthouses in Stratford, Woodstock, Orillia and Gore Bay until proper COVID-19 protections are in place. In-person family law matters will also be delayed in Stratford, Woodstock and Gore Bay.
The in-person proceedings in the Ontario Court of Justice were due to resume at those locations on Sept. 14 as part of a phased in reopening plan, but “the Ministry has advised that it is not satisfied that all of the necessary health and safety measures are in place …” according to a notice to the profession and the public from the Ontario Court of Justice.
Instead, all cases scheduled for an in-person trial or preliminary hearing the week of Sept. 14 at those locations will be addressed at each location’s COVID-19 Trial Readiness Court, with counsel and accused appearing by videoconference or audioconference.
In-person family matters that were scheduled for Stratford, Woodstock or Gore Bay may proceed using remote technology, and the court will contact participants to make arrangements, according to a separate notice to the profession and public.
Other courthouse locations that were scheduled to reopen Sept. 14, including Coburg, Simcoe, Welland, Cochrane, Fort Frances and Walkerton, are not affected.
The in-person proceedings in the Ontario Court of Justice were due to resume at those locations on Sept. 14 as part of a phased in reopening plan, but “the Ministry has advised that it is not satisfied that all of the necessary health and safety measures are in place …” according to a notice to the profession and the public from the Ontario Court of Justice.
Instead, all cases scheduled for an in-person trial or preliminary hearing the week of Sept. 14 at those locations will be addressed at each location’s COVID-19 Trial Readiness Court, with counsel and accused appearing by videoconference or audioconference.
In-person family matters that were scheduled for Stratford, Woodstock or Gore Bay may proceed using remote technology, and the court will contact participants to make arrangements, according to a separate notice to the profession and public.
Other courthouse locations that were scheduled to reopen Sept. 14, including Coburg, Simcoe, Welland, Cochrane, Fort Frances and Walkerton, are not affected.
