Measures by the Ontario Courts to control the spread of COVID-19

Ontario Court of Justice

COVID-19 Pandemic Planning for the Scheduling of Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice

• As of Monday, March 16, anyone with a Provincial Offences Act, family or criminal court appearance scheduled in the Ontario Court of Justice does not need to attend court, unless the matter is an in-custody or urgent criminal matter or an urgent family matter. 

Superior Court of Justice

• Effective March 16, all sittings of the Ontario Small Claims Court are suspended until further notice.

• The Superior Court of Justice is suspending all regular operations, effective March 17 and until further notice.

Court of Appeal for Ontario

• Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, except as provided below, the Court of Appeal will suspend all scheduled appeals for a period of 3 weeks (until April 3, 2020). 

• During this period, urgent appeals will be heard based on either the written materials or remotely. 

• Parties on non-urgent appeals that were scheduled between March 17 and April 3, 2020 can request that their appeal be heard in writing.