Covid-19 update:

The Ontario Court of Justice (“OCJ”) will re-open during COVID-19 on a limited basis. We received up to date information today that Phase One of the reopening of Ontario OCJ is under way and due to open for in-person attendances on select matters on July 6, 2020, only in relation to very specific matters listed below, unless ordered otherwise:

  1. Child Youth and Family Services Trials and Summary Judgement Motions (Children’s Aid Society Matters); Family Law Act or Children’s Law Reform Act Urgent Trials and Focused hearings, as determined by the judge;
  2. Child Youth and Family Services Settlement Conferences, Trial Management Conferences and or combined Settlement/Trial Management Conferences (Children’s Aid Society Matters);
  3. Family Law Act or Children’s Law Reform Act Settlement Conferences or Trial Management Conferences (Domestic Matters).
  4. Any conferences already adjourned to teleconferences or to a later date will be heard in such a manner.

Note: This re-opening will not take place on July 6, 2020 if the Ministry concludes that attendees at the courthouse cannot be adequately protected by this date (they are currently inspecting the courts to see if public health and safety precautions can be implemented in accordance with advice from health experts.

The OCJ has been clear on two points:

  1. They are currently not accepting any new Applications unless urgent;
  2. Parties and counsel are not to attend the courthouses until a Judge decides through court orders as to whom is permitted to attend and for what reason and until it is confirmed that this limited re-opening will proceed on July 6, 2020.

Written by Adam Jaffer, Articling Student