Superior Court of Justice - Hamilton-Sopinka:

REVISED NOTICE TO THE PROFESSION - CRIMINAL MATTERS:

January 10, 2024

In August, 2022, the Superior Court in Hamilton implemented Trial Readiness procedures for all criminal matters. This directive required that defence counsel and the assigned Crown Attorney or Federal Prosecutor be required to jointly file the Trial Readiness Form 18C, as amended, with the Trial Coordinator no later than 10 clear days prior to the commencement of trial or the Pre-Trial Motion (“PTM”). It was anticipated that by filing the completed Form within the prescribed timeframe, there was no necessity to implement formal Trial Readiness hearings.

Unfortunately, this process requires revamping, as the forms are not being completed in a timely manner, or do not accurately reflect the positions of the parties for trial/PTM.

Therefore, for all trials/PTMs scheduled on or after March 4, 2024, and pursuant to Rule 28.04(18)(a) of the Criminal Proceedings Rules for the Superior Court of Justice, defence counsel of record and the assigned Prosecutor shall attend the Trial Readiness Court to update the presiding judge and to confirm proceeding to trial or the PTM, with updated time estimates, as the case may be.

Exception: In accordance with the Rule, if Form 18C, as amended, is jointly filled out by both Crown and defence and filed with the Trial Coordinator no later than three business days prior to the Trial Readiness Court date, then no attendance is required. (This form is available on the Hamilton Law Association website.)

Trial Readiness Courts shall be held on Wednesdays, at 9:30 a.m., the week immediately preceding the scheduled trial or PTM. Trial Readiness Court dates will be provided by the Trial Coordinator, including at the Assignment Court at the time of the scheduling of the trial or PTM.

Zoom Link for Trial Readiness Court:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/68069946381?pwd=bzhYdW5pOGswckR5bjdXWWFndENDQT09

Tel: 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

Meeting ID: 680 6994 6381

Passcode: 968397

Counsel’s or self-represented litigants’ failure to attend the Trial Readiness Court shall mandate an in-person court appearance before the Local Administrative Judge or his designate, to explain non-compliance with this directive, which may necessitate further orders from the court.

Justice A.J. Goodman

Local Administrative Judge Hamilton- Sopinka Courthouse