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Ontario Court of Appeal resuming in-person hearings

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 @ 3:51 PM | By Amanda Jerome


On Oct. 26, the Ontario Court of Appeal announced that it would resume hearing in-person appeals starting Nov. 8.

“The Court will begin hearing criminal appeals and panel motions in person on November 8 and will begin hearing civil appeals and panel motions in person on November 15,” the announcement explained, noting that “inmate appeals, single-judge motions, purge court, and status court will continue to be heard remotely until further notice.”

The court also noted that parties will have “the option of attending in-person appeals and panel motions remotely using a Zoom link, which will be provided to them.”

“In-person attendance will be limited to counsel and self-represented litigants. Observers, including clients and the public, will be able to observe remotely by Zoom,” the announcement added.

According to the announcement, the Court of Appeal has been hearing appeals remotely by Zoom throughout most of the COVID-19 pandemic due to health and safety reasons.

“Based on public health advice the Court will resume hearing appeals in-person with appropriate health and safety measures in place. The Court continues to receive regular public health advice and will, if advisable, return to hearing appeals remotely,” the announcement explained.

People are asked to review the court’s “Protocol for In-Person Hearings During the COVID-10 Pandemic” and the court’s “Consolidated Practice Direction Regarding Proceedings During the COVID-19 Pandemic” for more information.

If you have any information, story ideas or news tips for The Lawyer’s Daily please contact Amanda Jerome at Amanda.Jerome@lexisnexis.ca or call 416-524-2152.