York Region Law Association - Update on Court Reopening - Newmarket Courthouse Walk Thru June 16/20

Update on Court Reopening - Newmarket Courthouse Walk Thru June 16/20

22 Jun 2020 9:31 AM | York Region Law Association (Administrator)

Update on Court Reopening - Newmarket Courthouse Walk Thru June 16/20

I attended the Newmarket session/walk thru on June 16, 2020 as part of a small group including our LAJ Ghosh and SCJ Fuerst.

There have been not any significant physical changes as of yet. They intend to install significant amounts of plexiglass particularly in the courtrooms, signage and floor makings throughout the building, and addressing elevator and washroom use. These items are on order but have yet to arrive and be installed*

There was significant discussions of a manner of reopening, with issues to be addressed and finalized shortly. In addition we all had access to the presentation on Friday which may impact or temper the suggestions. In any event below are some of the suggestions and discussions from the walk through (again, though no concrete positions taken as of yet):

1. Permitting use of prisoners box for out of custody accused, or multiple accused to sit in as there is already pre-existing plexiglass. As there is no jury is present and this being simply a covid-19 issue, there would no concern for impact on the trier of fact by presence in the box.

2. Discussion still ongoing as to whether and who would wear masks, and whether same will be mandatory.

3. For jury trials, trying to configure jury boxes or jury seating to comply with adequate social distancing.

4. Jurists, court staff and or some of them may be offsite.

5. No direction yet whether jurists will have the option if wearing a mask or whether such will be mandatory.

6. Removal of lecterns from courtrooms so counsel can likely address court while seated and typing.

7. Vulnerable witnesses - conference room adjacent to courtroom 204 may be able to accommodate face to face examination of witnesses given room dimensions but will depend on judicial and other directions.

* (Installation of the plexiglass barriers took place on the 18th and the law library staff desks were included as part of this project) - Betty

Crown Assignments Week of June 22, 2020

Monday June 22

202P – Rob De Chellis Robert.DeChellis@ontario.ca

200 Court (judge) – Tony Tony.VandenEnde@ontario.ca

201 Court (judge) – Michael Demczur Michael.Demczur@ontario.ca

103 Bails – Samantha Samantha.Peterson2@ontario.ca

104 Bails – Jeff Jeffrey.Costain1@ontario.ca

Bail Vettors – Sham Shambavi.Kumaresan@ontario.ca

Elissa Elissa.Kulpers@ontario.ca

Remote Duty Crown – Lesley Lesley.Pasquino@ontario.ca

Tuesday June 23