News
New Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto – Self-Represented Court pilot project, effective May 5, 2025
May 1, 2025
Beginning May 5, 2025, the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto will be launching a pilot project dedicated to self-represented accused persons. For more information see the Self-Represented Court – OCJ – Toronto Practice Direction.
Public Statement by Ontario’s three Chief Justices regarding Judicial Independence, April 30, 2025
April 30, 2025
Three Ontario Courts Chiefs’ statement regarding Judicial Independence
Revised Serving and Filing Criminal Court Documents Practice Direction, effective June 2, 2025
April 22, 2025
The Court is revising its Serving and Filing Criminal Court Documents Practice Direction effective June 2, 2025. For more information see the Revised Serving and Filing Criminal Court Documents Practice Direction effective June 2, 2025.
Changes to the Criminal Rules effective March 31, 2025
March 31, 2025
The Court has amended its Criminal Rules to clarify various provisions addressing Applications. In addition, a new rule (Rule 1.4) addressing virtual (remote) appearances has been added. Under Rule 1.4, the Court has issued a new Practice Direction: Mode of Appearance for Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Proceedings. These changes come into effect March 31, 2025. For more information, see Criminal Rules of the Ontario Court of Justice.
New Practice Direction governing the mode of appearance for criminal proceedings coming into effect March 31, 2025
March 20, 2025
The Court has issued a new Practice Direction governing the mode of appearance for criminal proceedings in the Ontario Court of Justice, which will come into effect March 31, 2025. For more information, please see Practice Direction: Mode of Appearance for Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Proceedings.
Re: Practice Direction: Jordan-Compliant Trial Scheduling
March 17, 2025
Effective March 17, 2025, the Court will be implementing the updated Practice Direction: Jordan-Compliant Trial Scheduling. Previous versions of the practice direction are available on the Archives section of the Ontario Court of Justice website.
Re: Judicial Criminal Pre-trial Best Practices
March 17, 2025
Effective March 17, 2025, the Court will be implementing the updated Judicial Criminal Pre-trial Best Practices. Previous versions of the practice direction are available on the Archives section of the Ontario Court of Justice website.
Bail Court Waiver of Appearance and Bring Forward Protocol Expanding to Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout
February 24, 2025
Effective February 24, 2025, the Court’s Bail Court Waiver of Appearance and Bring Forward Protocol will be expanding to bail appearances in the Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout courthouses from the Kenora District Jail. The protocol enhances access to fair and timely bail proceedings by reducing the number of administrative appearances in bail court. For more information, please see Practice Direction: Bail Court Waiver of Appearance and Bring Forward Protocol.
Appointment of new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective May 14, 2025
May 5, 2025
New Judges Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice