April 21, 2021
Attention: Presidents of Central West Region’s Law Associations
Re: Chief Justice Morawetz’s Notice to Profession Dated April 20, 2021
Attached you will find a copy of Chief Justice Morawetz’s Notice to the Profession, dated April 20, 2021.
Civil and Family Matters
Commencing Thursday April 22, 2021, all in-person and virtual scheduled civil and family hearings/matters, which have not yet commenced, will be adjourned unless a judge determines that they are urgent, in which case they will proceed by way of a virtual hearing. A judge will still attend the virtual hearings but only to adjourn matters or to hear any submissions that the matter is urgent and should proceed virtually. If counsel/parties do not attend, the matter will be adjourned.
In-person and virtual hearings currently under way will be subject to the presiding judge’s discretion whether to proceed.
No new in-person hearings will commence unless they are absolutely necessary, there is no other alternative, and they have the RSJ’s approval.
All civil and family scheduled matters on or after April 26, 2021 will be adjourned while this Notice to the Profession is in effect (including any extensions that may be established by the Chief Justice). Counsel/parties will be contacted by court staff to reschedule the matters when court operations resume to hear matters virtually and in-person.
Any requests for virtual hearings because the matter is urgent should be sent to the following email addresses for consideration by a judge. Counsel/parties will be advised if the matter will proceed virtually.
INSERT
Any Central West Civil Assignment Courts scheduled for the week of April 26, 2021are hereby adjourned to May 25, 2021 at 9 am at the same Zoom coordinates for the currently scheduled Assignment Courts.
Criminal Matters
Commencing April 22, 2021, all scheduled remote criminal appearances will be continue to proceed with their virtual attendances as scheduled.
For all scheduled criminal hearings, if counsel can agree agree on an adjournment, they should advise the Trial Coordinator at which point the matter will be spoken to and remanded at the virtual attendance. Otherwise, on the scheduled date, at the virtual hearing the presiding judge will determine whether the matter will be adjourned, if absolutely necessary with no alternative, proceed virtually or in-person.
No new in-person criminal hearings will commence unless they are absolutely necessary, there is no other alternative, and they have the RSJ’s approval.
In-person and virtual criminal hearings currently under way will be subject to the presiding judge’s discretion whether to proceed.
Please forward to all your members as soon as possible.
Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Leonard Ricchetti
Regional Senior Justice, Central West Region