Practice Directions, Notices, and Guidelines
Serving and filing documents
Documents in criminal proceedings in the Ontario Court of Justice must be served and filed in accordance with the Court’s Practice Direction: Serving and Filing Criminal Court Documents.
Serving and Filing Criminal Court Documents Practice Direction:
Read full practice direction
Mode of appearance
At certain stages of a criminal proceeding, accused persons and counsel may be permitted to attend court via telephone or Zoom. The Court’s Revised re Mode of Appearance for Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Proceedings list what modes of appearance are permitted at each stage of criminal proceedings.
Revised Guidelines re Mode of Appearance for Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Proceedings:
Read full guideline
Remote appearance code of conduct
The Remote Appearance Code of Conduct applies to all individuals who are required or permitted to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice remotely and ensures that these appearances occur without interruption and in accordance with the level of decorum expected in Ontario Court of Justice proceedings
Remote Appearance Code of Conduct:
Read full code of conduct
Use of electronic devices in court
The Court’s Protocol Regarding the Use of Electronic Communication Devices in Court Proceedings applies to all court users and the media. It sets out rules for the use of cell phones and computers in court proceedings.
Read full protocol
Accessing court proceedings and records
Access to court proceedings
Members of the public should consult the Court's policy on Public Access to Court Proceedings.
Members of the media should consult the Court's policy on Media access to in-person, video or teleconference court proceedings.
Read full policy
Read full policy
Access to digital audio recordings of court proceedings
Members of the public should consult the Court's policy on Access to Digital Audio Recordings.
Members of the media should consult the Court's policy on Media Access to Court Recordings, and the Joint Courts' List of Designated Media for Access to Digital Court Recordings.
Forms
- Litigants/accused and members of the media should complete the Request Form/Undertaking to the Court for Access to Digital Court Recordings: Word, PDF.
- Lawyers and paralegals should complete the Request Form/Undertaking of Counsel/Licensed Paralegal of Record to the Court for Access to Digital Court Recordings: Word, PDF.
Useful resources:
- Access to Digital Audio Recordings
- Media Access to Court Recordings
- Joint Courts' List of Designated Media for Access to Digital Court Recordings
Request Form/Undertaking to the Court for Access to Digital Court Recordings: Word, PDF
Request Form/Undertaking of Counsel/Licensed Paralegal of Record to the Court for Access to Digital Court Recordings: Word, PDF
Court records
The Ministry of the Attorney General manages court records. Its Court Services Division Policies and Procedures on Public Access to Court Files, Documents and Exhibits explain which court documents are available to the public and how to access them.
Court Services Division Policies and Procedures on Public Access to Court Files, Documents and Exhibits:
Read full policyBail court
Bail hearings
Bail hearing procedures are set out in the Ontario Court of Justice Protocol Re Bail Hearings
Applications to vary release orders and police undertakings
Individuals may apply to vary their release conditions by electronic means rather than attending at the courthouse. The Court’s Consent Variation Procedures for Release Orders and Police Undertakings govern consent variations of release conditions.
Individuals who have been released by the Court should use the Application for Consent Variation of Bail Form.
Individuals who have been released by the police should use the Application for Consent Variation of Police Undertaking Form.
Find out more about bail hearing procedures:
Bail Hearings Protocol
Consent Variations Procedures for Release Orders and Police Undertakings
Read full procedures
Useful resources:
Request for Special Bail Hearing Form
Request for Special Bail Hearing Form
Consent Variation of Bail
Consent Variation of Police Undertaking
Case management court
Case management court
The procedures for appearing in case management courts are set out in the Court’s Practice Direction: Criminal Case Management Appearances.
Read full practice direction
Waiver and Request for Adjournment Form
Appearances by accused person who are in custody
In accordance with the Court's Practice Direction: Waiver of Personal Attendance and Request for Adjournment/Remand by Accused Person in Custody, accused persons who are in custody may waive their right to appear personally before the Court to request an adjournment, by instructing defence counsel to complete and file the Waiver and Request for Adjournment / Remand in Accused Person’s Absence Form on their behalf.
Read full practice direction
Waiver and Request for Adjournment Form
Appearances by accused persons who are not in custody
Accused persons who are represented by counsel and who have filed an Enhanced Designation of Counsel may have their matters adjourned, without the accused personally appearing, in accordance with the procedure set out in the Practice Direction: Enhanced Designations of Counsel. They may do so using the Sample Enhanced Designation of Counsel Form
Read full practice direction
Sample Enhanced Designation of Counsel Form
Judge-led intensive case management court (JICMC)
The Court’s Practice Direction: Judge-led Intensive Case Management Courts explains the role of judge-led intensive case management courts (JICMCs) and provides links to the connection information for these courts.
Read full practice direction
Judicial pre-trials
Judicial pre-trials are held by videoconference, unless otherwise directed by the presiding judge. In accordance with the Revised Guidelines re Mode of Appearance for Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Proceedings, self-represented accused who lack technology will be accommodated with an in-person judicial pre-trial.
Judicial Criminal Pre-trial Best Practices and Rule 4.2 of the Criminal Rules of the Ontario Court of Justice provide more information about judicial pre-trials.
Revised Guidelines re Mode of Appearance for Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Proceedings:
Read full guideline
Useful resources:
Preliminary inquiries and trials
The Ontario Court of Justice has established a remote procedure for setting dates for preliminary inquiries and trials, using a combination of an online Trial / Preliminary Inquiry Scheduling Form and a trial scheduling conference with the Trial Coordinator’s office. Details of this procedure are found in the Procedure for Scheduling of Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries.
Once dates have been set, the Court’s Practice Direction: Trial Dates directs that the preliminary inquiry or trial proceed on those dates.
If a section 11(b) Charter application is brought for a stay of proceedings based on unreasonable delay, the Court’s Provincial Practice Direction regarding Time Limits for Oral Arguments on s.11(b) Charter Applications in Criminal Proceedings applies.
Useful resources:
- Practice Direction: Trial Dates
- Procedure for Scheduling of Criminal Trials and Preliminary Inquiries
- Provincial Practice Direction regarding Time Limits for Oral Arguments on s.11(b) Charter Applications in Criminal Proceedings
Notice of Election Form
Trial / Preliminary Inquiry Scheduling Form
Peace bonds and private prosecutions
Peace Bonds
Peace bond applications in the Ontario Court of Justice are explained in the Guide for Applying for a Peace Bond and related Peace Bond Application Form.
Useful resources:
Guide for Applying for a Peace Bond
Peace Bond Application Form
Private Prosecution Applications
If you wish to apply to lay a charge against another person, you should review the Guide for Applying for a Private Prosecution and the Private Prosecution Application Form.
Local Practice Directions
Certain practice directions apply only to local courts. These are listed below:
Many individual courthouses also have protocols that are applicable to that court alone. These protocols cover subjects such as any special arrangements for those appearing in court for the first time, or the process for obtaining a judicial pre-trial.
Contact the local courthouse directly to find out more about local courthouse protocols:
Ontario Courthouse Contacts