Archives
The directives on this page have been superseded or replaced by subsequent directives published on the Ontario Court of Justice public website. They are included here for reference only.
- GENERAL
- CRIMINAL
- FAMILY
- PROVINCIAL OFFENCES
GENERAL
New Practice Directions to Reduce Delay in Criminal Proceedings
October 24, 2023
Opening of the Courts of Ontario Ceremony 2023
September 19, 2023
The Opening of the Courts of Ontario Ceremony for 2023 will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023 in Courtroom 6-1 at 361 University Avenue at 3:30pm. Remarks will be delivered by Chief Justice Michael Tulloch, Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz, and Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas. The ceremony can be watched live at https://youtube.com/live/J-rkUNnlWZg.
Public Statement by Ontario’s three Chief Justices regarding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30th) which will be honoured on Monday (October 2nd)
September 14, 2023
Saturday, September 30th, 2023 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 12, 2023
Toronto Regional Bail Centre
May 1, 2023
The Toronto Region bail centre (TRBC) located at 2201 Finch Avenue West, will accommodate all adult bail operations as well as weekend and statutory holiday (WASH) court bail matters when the new Toronto courthouse is fully opened in 2023.
TRBC is equipped with the state-of-the-art technology required to deliver modern, accessible justice services and interconnectivity with the new Toronto courthouse.
New Toronto Courthouse: First purpose-built, high-rise courthouse in Toronto
May 1, 2023
The new Toronto courthouse, a state-of-the-art 17-storey building located at 10 Armoury Street, amalgamated six Ontario Court of Justice criminal courthouse locations from across the city of Toronto.
The new Toronto courthouse will improve access to justice for all adult Torontonians by providing equal access to court services in one location, including specialized courts (for example, mental health courts, Gladue courts, drug treatment court and youth courts) and their requisite support services.
Designation of His Majesty the King in cases where the Crown is a party
September 21, 2022
New filings
In matters where the Crown is a party, parties are to designate His Majesty the King rather than Her Majesty the Queen in any new filing in an ongoing or new proceeding.
Ongoing matters
For ongoing proceedings, no party to any proceeding in the Ontario Court of Justice is required to bring a motion to change previously filed materials. Further, parties will not be required to file amended documents. Matters commenced in the name of Her Majesty the Queen will continue in the name of His Majesty the King.
Appointment of new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective December 28, 2023
December 18, 2023
New Judges Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of new Regional Senior Justice to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective December 7, 2023
December 12, 2023
New Regional Senior Justice Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of new Regional Senior Justices of the Peace to the Ontario Court of Justice
December 12, 2023
New Regional Senior Justices of the Peace Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of two new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective November 30, 2023
November 20, 2023
New Judges Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of three new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective November 2, 2023
October 23, 2023
New Judges Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of new judge to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective October 12, 2023
September 29, 2023
New Judge Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of new judge to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective September 28, 2023
September 18, 2023
New Judge Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of a new Associate Chief Justice – Coordinator of Justices of the Peace, effective September 15, 2023
September 18, 2023
Appointment of new judge to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective August 31, 2023
August 21, 2023
New Judge Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
Appointment of five judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective July 13, 2023
June 30, 2023
New Judges Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
CRIMINAL
- Practice Direction – Enhanced Designations of Counsel – updated May 8, 2023
- Practice Direction Authorizing Alternate Form of Appearance where Enhanced Designation Filed – updated Jan 23, 2023
- Practice Direction Authorizing Alternate Form of Appearance where Enhanced Designation Filed – updated Apr 11, 2022
- Scheduling and Conducting of Virtual Criminal Case Management Appearances updated Nov 29, 2021
- Out of Court Adjournment of Matters where an Enhanced Designation of Counsel has been Filed – Pilot Projects – updated Oct 15, 2021
- Judge-led Intensive Case Management Courts – Sept 3, 2021
- COVID-19 Practice Direction Authorizing Alternate Form of Appearance where Enhanced Designation Filed – updated July 5, 2021
- Out of Court Adjournment of Matters where an Enhanced Designation of Counsel has been Filed – Pilot Project in Ottawa -Jan 28, 2021
- Criminal Case Adjournment Dates – Out-of-Custody Accused – March 16, 2020 to November 27, 2020 – Updated Nov 18, 2020
- Criminal Case Management Appearances on or after November 30, 2020 – Nov 18, 2020
- COVID 19 Practice Direction Authorizing Alternate Form of Appearance where Enhanced Designation Filed – updated Nov 16, 2020
- Additional Court Locations Commencing Virtual Criminal Case Management Appearances in Oct and Nov – Oct 22, 2020
- Additional Court Locations Commencing Virtual Criminal Case Management on Sept 21 – Sept 17, 2020
- Additional Court Locations Commencing Virtual Criminal Case Management Appearances on Sept 8 – Sept 2, 2020
- Scheduling and Conducting of Virtual Criminal Case Management Appearances – Aug 26, 2020
- Scheduling and Conducting of Virtual Criminal Case Management Appearances – Aug 20, 2020
- Province-Wide Implementation of Virtual Case Management Courts – Aug 19, 2020
- Waiver of Personal Attendance and Request for Adjournment – August 12, 2020
- Virtual Criminal Case Management Appearances in Kitchener and Ottawa – Aug 6, 2020
- COVID 19 Practice Direction Authorizing Alternate Form of Appearance where Enhanced Designation Filed – Aug 6, 2020
- Update regarding Criminal Case Management Appearances – July 28, 2020
- Criminal Case Management Appearances Dates – July 2, 2020
- Public Statement by Ontario’s three Chief Justices-National Day for Truth and Reconciliation-Sept 30, 2022
- Chief Justice Message re COVID-19 – March 18, 2022
- Message re COVID-19 – January 4, 2022
- Message re COVID-19 – December 20, 2021
- Message re COVID-19 – December 15, 2021
- Public Statement by Ontario’s three Chief Justices-Sept 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation-Sept 2021
- Ontario Court of Justice Notice-National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30, 2021 (Court Closure) – Sept 2021
- Message re COVID-19 – August 3, 2021
- Resumption of out-of-custody trials and preliminary inquiries as of May 25, 2021 – May 18, 2021
- Reducing out‐of-Custody Trials and Preliminary Inquiries between April 26 and May 21, 2021- updated May 4, 2021
- Adjournment of out-of-custody Trials and Preliminary Inquiries between April 26 and May 7, 2021-Apr 21, 2021
- Message re COVID-19 – April 8, 2021
- Message re COVID-19 – January 13, 2021
- Message re COVID-19 – December 13, 2020
- Message re COVID-19 – November 21, 2020
- Resumption of Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries Nov 30, 2020 in additional locations – Nov 16, 2020
- Continuity of Court Operations in Thunder Bay using Remote Technology or at an Alternate Location – Nov, 6 2020
- Resumption of In-Person Criminal Hearings at Guelph (36 Wyndham Street South) – Oct 30 2020
- In-Person Criminal Hearings Temporarily Suspended at Guelph (36 Wyndham Street South) – Oct 21, 2020
- Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries Resuming at Stratford on September 28, 2020 – Sept 25, 2020
- Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries Resuming at Gore Bay, Orillia and Woodstock on Sept 16- Sept 15, 2020
- Delay in Resuming Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries-Gore Bay Orillia Stratford Woodstock-Sept 11, 2020
- Resumption of Criminal Trials and Preliminary Hearings – Aug 26, 2020
- Resumption of Criminal Trials and Preliminary Hearings-CP Kenora Timmins Peterborough Burlington – Aug 6, 2020
- Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries – Guelph – July 6, 2020
- Delay in Resuming Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries – College Park and Guelph – July 4, 2020
- COVID 19 Notice to Counsel and the Public-Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice-updated July 2, 2020
- Resumption of Criminal Trials and Preliminary Hearings as of July 6, 2020 – June 17, 2020
- COVID 19 Notice to Counsel and the Public-Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice-updated June 1, 2020
- COVID 19 Notice to Counsel and the Public-Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice-updated May 22, 2020
- COVID 19 Notice to Counsel and the Public-Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice – May 11, 2020
- Scheduling of Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice – May 4, 2020
- Scheduling of Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice – March 28, 2020
- Message re COVID-19 – March 23, 2020
- Scheduling of Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice – March 20, 2020
- Scheduling of Criminal Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice – March 16, 2020
- Message re COVID-19 – March 15, 2020
- Public Statement by Ontario’s three Chief Justices regarding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30th) – Sept 14, 2023
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30, 2022 – Criminal Matters- Sept 2022
- Public Statement by Ontario’s three Chief Justices-National Day for Truth and Reconciliation-Sept 30, 2022
- Ontario Court of Justice Notice-National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30, 2021 (Court Closure) – Sept 2021
- Public Statement by Ontario’s three Chief Justices-Sept 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation-Sept 2021
- September 30, 2021 – Criminal Case Adjournment Dates
- Practice Direction-Serving and Filing Criminal Court Documents – Dec 1, 2022
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – emailing documents November 19, 2020
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – emailing documents June 17, 2020
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – emailing documents May 14, 2020
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – emailing documents March 28, 2020
FAMILY
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – September 25 2020
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – September 18 2020
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – September 11 2020
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – July 6 2020
- Notice to the Legal Profession and the Public – March 28 2020
- Notice to the Profession – March 20 2020
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (August 29, 2023)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (March 18, 2022)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (January 4, 2022)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (December 20, 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (November 12, 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (July 30, 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (May 26, 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (effective May 4 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (April 21 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (April 8 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (April 7 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (January 14 2021)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (November 17 2020)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice – Stratford (September 25 2020)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (September 18 2020)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (September 11, 2020) Resumption of In-Person Hearings
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (August 10 2020)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (July 2 2020)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (June 17 2020)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (May 7 2020)
- Scheduling of Family Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice (March 28 2020)
PROVINCIAL OFFENCES
- Resuming Guilty Pleas as July 6, 2020
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – Revised May 10, 2022
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – April 28, 2022
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – Revised September 1, 2021
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – March 31, 2021
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – January 21, 2021
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – December 23, 2020
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – Revised November 25, 2020
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and Public Revised – October 14, 2020
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and Public – Revised September 11, 2020
- COVID-19: Notice to Counsel Paralegals and Public – Revised September 2, 2020
- COVID-19-Notice to Counsel Paralegals and the Public – May 19, 2020
- Notice to Public – May 4 2020
- Notice to Public – March 23 2020
- Order pursuant to section 85 – January 10 2022
- Order pursuant to section 85 – August 10 2021
- Order pursuant to section 85 – March 31 2021
- Order pursuant to section 85 – January 21 2021
- Order pursuant to section 85 – November 25 2020
- Order pursuant to section 85 – September 10 2020
- Order pursuant to section 85 – March 15 2020