(Published September 3, 2021)
Introduction
- The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a very large volume of cases in the Ontario Court of Justice case management courts. To address this backlog of cases, the Court is establishing a new case management court – the Judge-led Intensive Case Management Court (JICMC) – in every base court location across the province. The JICMCs will supplement and assist the permanent (“regular”) case management courts already operating at each court location.
Implementation Date
- JICMCs will be implemented in each court location no later than September 27, 2021.
- Cases will start being adjourned into the JICMCs no later than September 7, 2021.
Threshold / Scope of Cases for the JICMC
- Cases will be referred into the JICMC based on case age, with priority being given to older cases.
- Unless otherwise directed by the Regional Senior Judge or designate, all cases in “regular” case management courts that are 15 months or older will be referred to the JICMC.
- At the direction of the Regional Senior Judge or designate, the age threshold for referral to a JICMC may be adjusted in a location to account for case volumes. For example,
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- if too many cases meet the 15-month threshold to be effectively addressed in the JICMC, a location may initially apply a higher age threshold (e.g. 18 months); or
- if a location has already addressed most cases at the 15-month threshold, it may lower the threshold (e.g. 12 months)
- Cases that meet the age threshold but do not require further case management may be adjourned into a different court. For example,
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- if a trial or preliminary inquiry date is set and no outstanding issues require an intervening date (other than a confirmation / second event), the case can be adjourned to the confirmation / second event date, rather than the JICMC
- if the matter is resolving, the matter may be adjourned to a plea / resolution court, rather than the JICMC.
- Both counsel matters and self-represented accused matters will be referred to the JICMC.
Connection and Scheduling Information
- Unless otherwise directed by a judicial official, accused persons and their counsel may attend the JICMC using remote technology. Wherever possible, remote appearances should be by video, rather than telephone.
- For connection and scheduling information for the JICMC in each court location, see “Judge-led Intensive Case Management Courts – Connection and Scheduling Information”