(Published September 3, 2021)

Introduction

1. 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

2. JICMCs will be implemented in each court location no later than September 27, 2021.
3. Cases will start being adjourned into the JICMCs no later than September 7, 2021.

Threshold / Scope of Cases for the JICMC

4. Cases will be referred into the JICMC based on case age, with priority being given to older cases.
5. 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.
6. 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,

• • 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)

7. Cases that meet the age threshold but do not require further case management may be adjourned into a different court. For example,

• • 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.

8. Both counsel matters and self-represented accused matters will be referred to the JICMC.

Connection and Scheduling Information

9. 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.
10. For connection and scheduling information for the JICMC in each court location, see “Judge-led Intensive Case Management Courts – Connection and Scheduling Information”