THUNDER BAY - This week, the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court have announced their official response to the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to limit the number of people attending courthouses.
Starting Tuesday, March 17, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has suspended all regular operations until further notice.
Last week, the Ontario courts released a statement to the public advising members of the public not to enter the Thunder Bay courthouse if they had been advised by health officials to self-isolate due to possible exposure to COVID-19.
Any accused person who has a criminal matter scheduled for any type of appearance in Superior Court between March 17 and June 2 will have their matter adjourned unless directed otherwise by the Court, according to an order by Chief Justice Geoffrey B. Morawetz on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice website.
Court will still be in session to hear urgent in-custody matters.
Witnesses, lawyers and jurors should not attend court for trials of any matters between March 17 and May 29 unless specifically ordered to do so by a presiding judge. Jurors and witnesses will be re-notified of when to attend.
Unless ordered otherwise, ongoing trials will be adjourned to a date after June 1, 2020.
As of Monday, March 16, individuals scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice under the Provincial Offences Act, family or criminal court appearances, are not required to attend court unless the matter is an in-custody or urgent matter.
However, criminal courts remain open for accused persons in custody. Anybody out of custody with a criminal matter scheduled to appear in Ontario Court of Justice between March 16 and April 3 do not need to attend court.
These matters will be adjourned to another date 10 weeks from the date of the scheduled appearance.
Family courts also remain open for urgent matters. These matters include place of safety hearings, temporary care and custody hearing, restraining orders, status review hearings, secure treatment orders, and domestic matters.
For details or more information due to the change of operations, visit the Ontario Courts website by going here.
