Jury selection, jury trials will not start until September, Ontario Superior Court says

By Amanda Jerome

Law360 Canada (April 21, 2020, 11:30 AM EDT) -- On April 21, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice announced that it would not “recommence criminal or civil jury selection or jury trials until September, 2020, at the earliest.”

According to a notice to the profession, this decision was made due to the “on-going public health situation” related to COVID-19.

“The court will monitor the public health situation and issue further direction in early May,” the notice, issued by Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz, stated.

The notice also explained that, in the meantime, “all dates for criminal matters that are currently scheduled for trial or for any other reason in June will remain in place until that further direction is issued.”

“For civil jury matters, each region of the court will consider how it can best reschedule civil jury trials that were to have been heard during this suspension of regular operations.  Details will be shared in regional notices to the profession as they become available,” the notice added.