Jury Selection Suspended in Brampton, Toronto, and Ottawa; Virtual Hearings Encouraged

In a Notice to the Profession, issued on October 9, 2020, the Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice suspended jury selection in Brampton, Toronto, and Ottawa for the next 28 days. This follows the Province’s return to a modified Stage Two in Peel, Toronto, and Ottawa in light of increasing COVID cases.

The decision to continue matters that are in progress in these centres, including jury trials, will be made by the trial judge.

Upcoming in-person non-jury trials and other proceedings in Brampton, Toronto, and Ottawa will be permitted to proceed if there are 10 people or less in the courtroom. However, efforts should be made to hear matters remotely wherever possible.

Chief Justice Morawetz recognizes that some counsel, parties, and justice participants may be uncomfortable attending a courthouse during this time.

His Honour has encouraged the courts in Brampton, Toronto, and Ottawa to be flexible and for counsel and parties to be accommodating when requests for virtual hearings are made by opposing counsel and parties.