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I have a family court date in the Ontario Court of Justice. What should I do?

Check here for updates from the Ontario Court of Justice: www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/ .

The OCJ also has a guide with more information about how family cases are being heard: https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/notices/scheduling-of-family-matters/ .

The Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ) deals with family matters:

• in person in court,
• virtually, either by video or phone,
• or a mix of in person and remote.

Starting October 10, family cases are heard as follows:

First appearance or first court date	Virtual in the North East and North West, unless the judge says something else.   In person in Toronto, Central West, and West, unless the judge says something else.
First	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Continuing case conference	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Settlement conference	In person, unless the judge says something else
Trial management conference	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Combined conferences	In person, unless the judge says something else
Motion	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Trial audit or assignment court	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Trials	In person, but witnesses may be able to take part virtually, unless the judge says something else

Family Responsibility Office (FRO) issues are heard as follows:

FRO – first appearances	In person, unless the judge says something else
FRO To Be Spoken To (TBST) appearances	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
FRO default hearing for temporary or final orders that deal with jail time	In person, unless the judge says  something else
FRO for a Warrant of Committal	In person, unless the judge says something else
FRO refraining order	Virtual, unless the judge says something else

Child protection issues are heard as follows:

First appearance if a child has been brought to a place of safety	In person, unless the judge says something else
First appearance if a child has not been brought to a place of safety and a status review application	In person, unless the judge says something else
Case conference	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Settlement conference	In person, unless the judge says something else
Trial management conference	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Combined conference	In person, unless the judge says something else
Motion	In person, unless the judge says something else
Trial audit or assignment court	Virtual, unless the judge says something else
Trial	In person but witnesses may be allowed to take part virtually, unless the judge says something else

If you're not sure how your issue will be heard, contact your local court .

The OCJ has a guide on how to prepare for court. It has specific information on each type of hearing – in person, phone, and virtual. And here are some tips on how to behave in court for an in-person  your hearing.

Virtual hearings

A virtual hearing is held by video and is called a videoconference. They use a free software called Zoom that is available on a web browser or can be downloaded on your phone, tablet, or computer.

You should get the Zoom meeting details for a first appearance when your Application is issued . For other hearings, you should receive an email with instructions on how to join the remote hearing and the day and time of your hearing. If you don't have this information, contact your local court before your court date.

Some things to keep in mind for your remote hearing:

• Test your internet connection ahead of time.
• Try and use a device with a camera, such as a computer, tablet, or smart phone.
• Make sure your computer is charged and that you have a charger close by.
• Find a quiet space with good lighting and a suitable background.
• Use a headset, if possible.
• Log in to your hearing 15 minutes early.
• Your screen name should be your given name and last name.
• Raise your hand when you want to speak.
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Mute your microphone when you're not speaking.

If you have problems during the hearing, for example, you can't hear the judge or the other party , raise your hand to let the judge know. If you get disconnected, try to join again.

Phone hearings

You should receive instructions on how to join your phone hearing, and the day and time of your hearing. If you don't get this information before your court date, contact your local court .

Some things to keep in mind for your phone hearing:

• Call in to your hearing at least 10 minutes early.
• Find a quiet space.
• A landline is better than a cell phone. If you're using a cell phone, put it on silent mode until your hearing starts. This way your phone notification sounds don't disturb the hearing.
• Don't use speakerphone or put the call on hold, as the sounds may disturb the hearing.
• Before you speak, say your name for the record.

If there's a problem with your phone connection or you can't hear the judge or the other party, let the judge know. If you get disconnected, try to call again.

In-person hearings

COVID-19 screening is no longer required to enter a courthouse. But you should still check to see if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. You can use the government's screening tool but you don't have to show the results when you get to court.

Contact your local court for more information.

Court lists

The court posts a list of cases they're hearing for the current day and next day on their website. After selecting your municipality, legal area, for example, family, civil, or criminal, and court location, you get a list. The list includes the:

• name of the party
• case number
• room number
• reason for the court appearance, for example, motion, case conference, or pre-trial

These lists are updated at least once daily at 8 a.m. This means your case might not be on the list if, for example, your case is to be heard by affidavit evidence only, or was added to the list after 8 a.m.

Court filings

You can file your documents:

• Online using the  Justice Services Online website : Read the question How do I file court forms for my family law case online? for more information.
• By email to your local court: The list of email addresses for each court can be found at www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/covid-19/courthouse-email-addresses/ . Read the question How can I file forms and documents in my family law case?
• In person at your local court : If you can't file online or by email, contact your local court to find out the court hours for when you can file documents in person at court.

Legal Aid Ontario

You can get summary legal advice and duty counsel services over the phone from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) at 1-800-668-8258 or, in Toronto, at 416-979-1446.

Each family court location in Ontario offers subsidized mediation services . You can get up to 8 hours of mediation for a fee that is based on each person's income and number of dependents. Fees start as low as $5 per hour. And if you have a court case, you can get up to 2 hours of mediation for free.

Contact service providers for an appointment or more information.

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Search for court cases online

Learn how to search and view Superior Court of Justice civil and criminal court case information and Ontario Court of Justice adult criminal court case information online.

Search for court cases

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How it works.

For all case types, you can use this tool to search:

• court case title
• Superior Court of Justice file number
• Ontario Court of Justice Information number
• court location
• next event/hearing type and date (if scheduled)
• publication bans

For civil cases in the Superior Court of Justice, you can use this tool to search:

• name of the legal representative of the person or company
• claim amount
• date the case was opened
• most recent order type and date

For criminal cases in the Superior Court of Justice, you can use this tool to search:

• date the accused person was committed to stand trial in the Superior Court of Justice

For criminal cases in the Ontario Court of Justice, you can use this tool to search:

• date on which the Information was sworn

This search tool will not provide information about cases that are subject to statutory or court-ordered public access restrictions. It will let you know if a court case is subject to a publication ban. The search tool may not reflect a publication ban that was recently granted. It is your responsibility to check with the appropriate courthouse about whether a case is subject to a publication ban, confirm the details of any publication ban, and comply with any publication bans or other restrictions.

This search tool will only provide information about active criminal cases:

• with a future court date,
• with a court date within the past 7 days, or
• where a bench warrant issued within the past 5 years

If you are not able to find the information you need, you may contact the court office where the case was, or is being heard.

You can only use this tool to search for court case information. Any other use is prohibited, including saving, reproducing and distributing the information in this tool.

Find court case information

Search court cases by entering the:

• type of case
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• year of birth of an accused person (Ontario Court of Justice criminal searches only)
• location of the courthouse where the case is being heard

Before you search

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If you have questions about a case, please contact the court office where the case is being heard.

View Today's Court Lists (Dockets) - Thursday September 05, 2024

Welcome. This website publishes the daily court lists for the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario) and the Ontario Court of Justice.

The daily court lists include the case name, time, room number and reason for the court appearance. For criminal matters in the Ontario Court of Justice, the docket number will also be displayed under the Docket Line column. For civil, criminal and family matters in the Superior Court of Justice, matters in the Small Claims Court and family matters in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Method of Attendance will display how a particular case will be heard (e.g. by videoconference, teleconference, attendance or hybrid). Definitions of each of the appearance methods are found in the FAQ section of this site.

NEW  - The Daily Court Lists website now posts case information for two days. You are on the page that will take you to information about tomorrow’s cases. To see case information for today, please see  Today’s court lists (dockets) . Note that case information changes at 8 am each day (i.e. at 8 am, the cases listed under “today’s court lists” will be updated to show the current day’s cases).

Important: If you have been served with a summons, or otherwise notified that you are required to attend court, you must attend court, even if your name does not appear on a list. Failure to attend may result in a warrant for your arrest, dismissal of your case or the case proceeding in your absence. You may be able to attend court by video (over the internet) or over the telephone, rather than in person.

To get started, please read the terms and conditions that apply to using the website and, if you agree, click on "I AGREE"

METHOD OF ATTENDANCE

Individuals are responsible for knowing whether they can attend a court proceeding remotely rather than in-person. Information about the expected/presumptive modes of attendance can be found by accessing the following links:

• Superior Court of Justice – Provincial Practice Directions
• Ontario Court of Justice – Practice Directions, Notices, and Guidelines
• Ontario Court of Justice – Scheduling of Family Matters

Please note that some cases do not appear in the daily court lists. These include matters in writing, matters added after the list is posted and matters subject to statutory, common-law or court-ordered public access restrictions such as adoptions and openness proceedings ( Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017) and youth criminal matters ( Youth Criminal Justice Act ). Other cases under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 will be anonymized using only the initials of the parties, including the Children’s Aid Society providing services. Please note that weekend and statutory holiday court lists are not published on this website.

You can search and view Superior Court of Justice civil and criminal court case information and Ontario Court of Justice adult criminal court case information at Search for court cases online | ontario.ca .

Terms and Conditions

The daily court lists of the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice are available on this website for general information only. These lists are not official and the court listings may be amended or updated after information is posted on this website. Certain types of cases are not listed on this website. For further information, see the  About  page.

The information contained in the daily court lists may not be collected, copied or distributed in any fashion, including for resale or other commercial use.

The information on this page is provided ‘as is’ and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to its accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability for any particular purpose. Court users are solely responsible for any use of this information and shall rely on it at their own risk.

The Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Justice and the Province of Ontario shall not be responsible for any loss or damage of any kind caused by any reason or purpose including, without limitation, reliance on the completeness or accuracy of the data contained on this website, including the daily court lists, or the functioning of this website.

The content of this site will be updated and is subject to frequent change. Please check back often for updates.

Publication Bans:  The daily court lists do not contain details about publication and disclosure bans and may not reflect bans that were recently granted (i.e., within the last day or two). It is your responsibility to personally check with the appropriate courthouse about whether a case is subject to a publication ban and to comply with any publication bans or other restrictions.

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Court Info & Forms

Tuesday & Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Zoom Links can be found within the docket below: with trial readiness court January 29, 2024 at 10 a.m. with trial readiness court May 6, 2024 at 10 a.m. & with trial readiness court August 26, 2024 at 10 a.m. August 26, 2024 Trial Readiness Court Docket List &   with trial readiness court November 4, 2024 at 10 a.m. is completed and signed by all parties                                    &   : August 21, 2024: & Zoom Link:    Zoom Link:

, Litigation Counsel on file are required to attend Civil Trial Readiness (speak-to) Court to confirm the status of the trial with updated time estimates. Appearances will be conducted virtually by ZOOM. If the action is settled or counsel have an order adjourning the matter, counsel should inform the Sopinka Trial Coordinator no later than three (3) days prior to the Trial Readiness Court date. Counsel need not attend the Trial Readiness Court. (2022) - Ontario Superior Court of Justice  (2023) - Ontario Superior Court of Justice   – Completion of this form by Crown and defence is mandatory for all criminal applications and trials.   Forms 1A and 2A are no longer required as pre-trials are mandatory in all matters.  (2015)  (2020) :  Following FOLA’s JSO Feedback Sessions with MAG, the OCJ, and the SCJ, the following resources have been provided for your reference: MAG’s guides on online filing:      For questions about online filing, MAG’s Contact Centre for Online Services: o By phone: o By email: (Civil, Divisional, Bankruptcy) (Family) (Small Claims)

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Tel:(905) 522-1563 

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Central Forms Repository (CFR)

• Ministry of Children,...

Confirmation of Assignment

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Forms, Links, and Information

Any person commencing a court proceeding to change the terms of their support...

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Additional Information

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Value
Form Number	006-3006
Title	Confirmation of Assignment
Description	Any person commencing a court proceeding to change the terms of their support order must complete a Confirmation of Assignment form to obtain information about whether their support order is assigned. The ministry will only provide information to the support payor, the support recipient or his/her lawyer. When the form is completed it must be sent to MCCSS, Confirmation of Assignment Unit.

Second trial against former Woodstock Mayor begins in London courtroom

Woodstock’s disgraced former mayor Trevor Birtch walked inside the London courthouse Tuesday to face three new charges of sexual assault involving one woman whose identity is protected under a court order.

The three counts date back to August 2021, April 2022, and the third is for alleged acts between January 2017 and April 2022.

Assistant crown attorney Jennifer Moser said the allegations are of unwanted sexual intercourse

The court heard that Birtch will be testifying during the four-day judge-alone trial.

The first witness called up to the stand today was London Police Special Constable Kim Seward who works in the digital forensics unit.

Seward testified that she obtained a cell phone from an address in Woodstock, and using digital forensic tools, she extracted Facebook messenger texts and audio recordings between Birtch and a woman who is friends with the complainant.

That woman was the second witness, who testified via zoom today. She said she was an acquaintance of Trevor Birtch during his term as Mayor of Woodstock and provided police with message exchanges between the two of them - after becoming concerned.

"These messages were the last straw [she said] and they just made me so sick. I just couldn’t do it anymore. I originally thought the benefits outweighed what I was having to listen to.”

When asked by Assistant Crown Moser what benefits she was referring to, the woman said, "I did a lot of outreach work and it was helpful to have the mayor show up with you, have doors open and be able to help the community."

The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday, with defence lawyer James Battin set to cross examine the complainant’s friend who exchanged the text and audio messages with Birtch, in which Moser said that Birtch confesses to the sexual activity.

Last month, the 49 year old was found guilty on two separate charges of assault and sexual assault involving another woman. He will be sentenced for those charges on September 10. 

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Judgment day adjourned in 'troubling' Windsor criminal harassment case

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A London man must wait another month to hear what punishment he has in store after the sentencing judge called in sick on Wednesday.

Bubba Pollock could face up to six months behind bars if the judge sides with the prosecution’s position that his conviction on criminal harassment demands a period of incarceration.

Pollock’s trip to Windsor and visit to the hospital room of a dying man he did not know was “troubling on so many levels,” assistant Crown attorney Jennifer Holmes said during an earlier sentencing hearing.

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Pollock, 35, pleaded guilty in January to criminal harassment for dropping off flowers and taking a selfie photo in the palliative care room of the complete stranger. The bedridden Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare patient’s family found out about the strange June 2023 visit after Pollock posted a photo to his social media profile.

“He had so many opportunities to realize what a horrific thing he was about to do,” Holmes told the sentencing hearing in July. “But on he marches, right into the room, and put the flowers down next to a palliative, unresponsive man and takes a photograph.”

The intended target was the man’s daughter, Britt Leroux, who only knew of Pollock from several heated social media exchanges in the previous days over area Pride events.

In an emotional victim impact statement read in Ontario Court of Justice during the sentencing hearing, Leroux said the incident has “changed the course of my life forever.”

Pollock would post his opposition online to Pride events, including drag queen storybook gatherings, and Leroux would respond as a vocal supporter of the Pride community.

Holmes was also asking for a three-year period of probation to follow any incarceration. Defence lawyer Ron Ellis had argued for a three-year suspended sentence for his client.

Pollock’s sentencing before Justice Mark Hornblower is now set for Oct. 4 in Windsor.

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Notice to the Profession and Public Regarding Court Proceedings

March 17, 2022 update

Effective April 19, 2022, counsel must be gowned for any virtual proceeding that, if conducted in person, would require gowning. For greater clarity, unless a region-specific Practice Direction states otherwise, counsel are not required to gown for the following court attendances:

• Trial scheduling court (also known as assignment court, “speak to” court or “purge court”) in family, criminal or civil proceedings;
• Case conferences, settlement conferences, trial management conferences, or pre-trials; and
• Small Claims Court proceedings.

Counsel must be gowned for all other in-person or virtual proceedings. They must do so regardless of whether the presiding judicial official is a judge or an associate judge.

January 19, 2022 update

In response to the continuing public health situation in respect of COVID-19 and the highly transmissible Omicron variant, effective Monday, February 7, 2022, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will extend the following temporary adjustments to its operations announced on December 17, 2021, until February 28,  2022, subject to further direction from the Court,

Jury Trials scheduled in January and February:

The Court will not commence any new jury selection in any court location until February 28, 2022.

In-progress jury trials and non-jury trials and proceedings:

The decision to continue matters that are in progress, including jury trials, will be made by the presiding judge taking into account the positions of the parties and making any adjustments as necessary to accommodate those who do not wish to attend in person.

Access to participate in a virtual hearing:

For all matters, where a party has a lawyer they are encouraged to explore the technology supports that their lawyer may be able to provide, such as attending at the lawyer’s office or another location to participate in their hearing virtually. Where a litigant does not have access to the necessary technology to participate in a virtual hearing, and does not have a lawyer who is able to provide supports or resources, they should reach out to their local court office immediately so that arrangements can be made to facilitate their participation in the hearing.

Criminal trials and other Criminal Matters

Criminal  judge alone trials and other criminal matters may proceed in-person or hybrid at the discretion of the presiding judge taking into account the positions of the parties and making any adjustments as necessary to accommodate those who do not wish to attend in-person.  Efforts should be made to hear these matters remotely where possible.

Civil Matters

All Civil matters will proceed virtually. Where necessary, particularly in situations of urgency, the Court may direct that these cases proceed as hybrid hearings.

Family Matters

All Family and Child Protection matters will also proceed virtually.  Where necessary, particularly in situations of urgency, the Court may direct that these cases proceed as hybrid hearings.

December 17, 2021 update

In response to the most recent developments related to the public health situation in respect of COVID-19 and the highly transmissible Omicron variant, effective Monday, December 20, 2021, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will make the following temporary adjustments to its operations until February 7, 2022, subject to further direction from the Court,

Jury Trials scheduled in January and early February:

The Court will not commence any new jury selection in any court location until February 7, 2022.

June 18, 2021 update (gowning clarification June 29, 2021)

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice will increase the number of in-person non-jury hearings effective June 21, 2021. As indicated in the May 12, 2021 Notice, some locations may resume jury selection and jury trials commencing July, August or September. The increase of in-person hearings as well as resumption of jury selection and jury trials will be subject to the discretion of the Regional Senior Justice and the public health situation provincially and regionally. Please check for local directions and/or confirm with local scheduling staff. It is expected that virtual hearings will continue alongside in-person hearings.

Courts and offsite jury selection locations will follow all Ministry of the Attorney General health and safety measures and protocols, including any protocols relating to the appropriate number of people in each courtroom, masking and social distancing.

Notwithstanding the above, I recognize that some counsel, parties and justice participants may be uncomfortable attending a courthouse during this time. I have encouraged all judicial officers, when exercising their authority, to be flexible and to respect the various reasons why an individual may not be comfortable attending a courthouse in person. The feasibility of a virtual hearing or alternate arrangements is to be explored, when requested. Similarly, I encourage counsel and parties to be accommodating when requests for virtual hearings or other arrangements are made by opposing counsel or parties.

For in-person proceedings, counsel must gown in accordance with paragraphs 59-61 of the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction . Gowns are not required in virtual proceedings. Where gowning is required, counsel must gown regardless of whether the presiding judicial official is a judge or a associate judge.

May 12, 2021 update

In response to the continuing public health situation, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will continue to operate in accordance with the direction of April 8, 2021 that stated:

Until further direction from the Court, all non-jury matters should proceed virtually unless it is absolutely necessary to hold the proceedings in-person. To the greatest extent possible, all other avenues should be explored and implemented. This applies to proceedings throughout the province and will remain in effect until further notice of this Court. Counsel and parties should request in-person hearings only where absolutely necessary and I have requested all judicial officers, when exercising their authority, to hold in-person hearings only where absolutely necessary. The requirement to gown remains suspended for all in-person, hybrid and remote hearings. Should matters deteriorate, further changes may be announced.

Future jury selection and trials

The Court will not resume jury matters in June. The Court may be in a position to resume jury selection and jury trials in July, August or September, subject to the public health situation provincially and regionally and regional direction from the Regional Senior Justice. Please check for local directions and/or confirm with local scheduling staff.

April 20, 2021 update

In view of the strengthened stay-at-home order and the critical situation with the pandemic, over the next several weeks until May 7, to  reduce the number of court staff, counsel or parties required to leave their homes to participate in court proceedings, the Court will  defer as many matters as possible. This includes virtual hearings.

The Court will focus on hearing

• the most serious child protection matters
• urgent family matters
• critical criminal matters, and
• urgent commercial or economic matters where there are employment or economic impacts.

Subject to the discretion of the trial judge, matters that are in-progress can continue. The positions of the parties and staff should be strongly considered and alternate arrangements should be made for those who do not wish to attend in-person.

The Court is seeking the cooperation of counsel to defer as much as possible.

April 8, 2021 update

The Court is an essential service and will remain open. However, during the province-wide stay-at home order that is in effect until May 6, 2021, in-person matters will not be held with the exception of only the most serious child protection matters, urgent family matters and critical criminal matters, where other options are absolutely unavailable. In determining whether a matter falls into this exceptional category, the Court will take into account the local public health situation and positions of the parties.

The Court will continue to hear as many matters as possible virtually. Subject to the discretion of the trial judge, in-person matters that are in progress can continue. The positions of the parties should be strongly considered and alternate arrangements should be made for those who do not wish to attend in-person.

The requirement to gown remains suspended for all in-person, hybrid and remote hearings.

March 17, 2021

In response to the evolving public health situation and based on public health advice, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice anticipates resuming the conduct of some jury trials in June and July.

However, these changes are contingent upon the public health situation in each region being stable. Should matters deteriorate, further changes may be announced.

Jury selection and trials

Subject to further direction from the Regional Senior Justice and public health information, the Court anticipates resuming new jury selection and jury trials:

• on June 7, 2021 at the earliest, in the Central West, Central East, Central South and East regions;
• on July 5, 2021 at the earliest, in the Toronto, Northwest, Northeast and Southwest regions.

Accordingly, the previously announced suspension of jury selection and jury trials until May 3, 2021 is extended until June 7, 2021 in the Central West, Central East, Central South and East regions. In the Toronto, Northwest, Northeast and Southwest regions, the suspension is extended until July 5, 2021.

The direction to hold in-person hearings only where absolutely necessary remains in effect

Until further direction from the Court, all non-jury matters should proceed virtually unless it is absolutely necessary to hold the proceedings in-person. To the greatest extent possible, all other avenues should be explored and implemented. This applies to proceedings throughout the province and will remain in effect until further notice of this Court.

Counsel and parties should request in-person hearings only where absolutely necessary and I have requested all judicial officers, when exercising their authority, to hold in-person hearings only where absolutely necessary.

February 25, 2021 update

While the Ontario Superior Court of Justice remains open during the provincial lockdown, the court must continue to make necessary changes in response to the evolving public health situation.

In view of the new provincial restrictions announced on January 12, 2021, effective January 13, 2021, the suspension of jury trials will be extended until May 3, 2021 at the earliest. No new jury selection will commence during this period. Proceedings that are in progress may continue subject to the discretion of the trial judge.

All non-jury matters should proceed virtually unless it is absolutely necessary to hold the proceedings in-person. To the greatest extent possible, all other avenues should be explored and implemented. This applies to proceedings throughout the province and will remain in effect until further notice of this Court.

Further notices will be issued when public health restrictions are lifted.

December 14, 2020 update

Chief Justice Morawetz has extended the suspension of jury trials until at least January 29, 2021 in all areas of the province except Green Zones. Jury trials will recommence on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021 at the earliest.

November 21, 2020 Notice

On November 21, 2020, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice suspended new jury selection for new jury trials in all areas of the province except Green Zones until at least January 4, 2021.

By this update, the profession and public is notified that

In view of the public health situation, effective Monday, November 23, 2020, the Court will not commence any new jury selection in any court location except in those in a Green Zone as defined by the Ontario Government as of the date of this notice https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open .

This will remain in effect until at least January 4, 2021. An update will be issued on December 29, 2020.

To be clear, only court locations in Green Zones as of the date of this Notice will commence new jury selection until at least January 4, 2021.

Jury trials currently in progress can proceed, subject to the discretion of the trial judge.

Toronto and Peel

In the lockdown regions of Toronto and Peel, until further notice new (non-jury) matters that do proceed in-person will be required to maintain a 10-person limit in each courtroom.

Matters that are in progress involving greater than 10 persons in a courtroom, may continue at the discretion of the trial judge.

Virtual Proceeding Strongly Encouraged In All regions

In all regions, I strongly encourage the use of virtual proceedings wherever possible. I recognize that parties, counsel and participants may not be comfortable attending a courthouse or travelling to attend court. The Court must respond to this situation with great flexibility.

I have requested all judicial officers, when exercising their authority, to be as flexible as possible and to encourage virtual proceedings, wherever possible. Similarly, I request counsel and parties to be accommodating when requests for virtual hearings or other arrangements are made by opposing counsel or parties.

We must continue to do what we can to move matters forward while supporting public health efforts to stabilize the situation.

Geoffrey B. Morawetz Chief Justice Ontario Superior Court of Justice