THUNDER BAY - The Ontario court system is making use of telephone and video conferencing to reduce the number of people in courtrooms and courthouses in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
An updated memo posted to the Ontario Court of Justice on Saturday, March 28, says all urgent criminal and family matters will be conducted by telephone or video conferencing.
Attendance in courtrooms for these matters will be restricted to judicial officials and essential court staff unless otherwise ordered by a judicial official.
Defence lawyers and Crown prosecutors have been advised to work remotely and appear by audio. There have also been accommodations made for urgent in-custody guilty pleas and sentencing hearings to be dealt with remotely using audio technology where possible.
“Physical distancing measures will be strictly enforced in the courtrooms and throughout the courthouse,” the memo says on the Ontario Court of Justice website.
Judicial officials will remain available in-person to preside over regularly scheduled bail court, remand and plea courts for in-custody proceedings, plea court for urgent out-of-custody matters, urgent family proceedings and urgent or essential intake court functions.
"All criminal cases involving in-custody accused will be considered urgent matters," the memo reads.
Members of the public and legal professionals are also asked not to attend courthouses at this time for the purposes of filing court documents.
Access to court proceedings to media personnel is also restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic at this time.
Any urgent court document filing can now be submitted by email. Instructions for doing so can be found by clicking here.
If you have an out of custody matter and you are unsure if you should attend the Ontario Court of Justice courthouses, go here for a full list of exceptions and definitions.
