Chief Justice Court Order – Adjourning Criminal Matters

SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE

 

CANADA                                   )         THE  15 th

PROVINCE OF ONTARIO        )         DAY OF March, 2020         

                                                                                                     

BY ORDER OF CHIEF JUSTICE GEOFFREY MORAWETZ

Due to the urgent public health crisis caused by COVID 19, for any accused person who has a criminal matter scheduled for any type of appearance in any court in Ontario in the Superior Court of Justice between March 17, 2020 and June 2, 2020, that matter is adjourned, unless the court orders otherwise.

[1] To ensure jurisdiction is preserved for all accused persons who have been scheduled to appear between March 17, 2020 and June 1, 2020:

A bench warrant with discretion is issued as of the date the person is scheduled to appear, pursuant to s. 597 (4) of the Criminal Code.

[2] Accused persons with matters scheduled in the Superior Court of Justice in the month of March, 2020

  • are adjourned until June 2, 2020
  • must appear in this Court on June 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the court location at which they were to appear in March, 2020.
  • a bench warrant with discretion(s. 597(4)) is issued to return on June 2, 2020, and
  • if the person fails to appear in this Court on June 2, 2020, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.

[3] Accused persons with matters scheduled in the Superior Court of Justice in the month of April, 2020

  • are adjourned until June 3, 2020
  • must appear in this Court on June 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the court location at which they were to appear in April, 2020.
  • a bench warrant with discretion (s. 597(4)) is issued to return on June 3, 2020, and
  • if the person fails to appear in this Court on June 3, 2020, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.

[4] Accused persons with matters scheduled in the Superior Court of Justice in the month of May, 2020

  • are adjourned until June 4, 2020
  • must appear in this Court on June 4, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the court location at which they were to appear in May, 2020.
  • a bench warrant with discretion (s. 597(4)) is issued to return on June 4, 2020, and
  • if the person fails to appear in this Court on June 4, 2020, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.

[5] Persons regularly scheduled to appear on June 1, 2020 should do so.

DATED at Toronto, this 15th day of March, 2020.

 

Geoffrey B. Morawetz
Chief Justice
Ontario Superior Court of Justice