Ontario litigators, dust off your robes (but don’t uninstall Zoom)! The Superior Court of Justice announces guidelines for the presumptive mode of attendance

In March 2020, the Superior Court of Justice (SCJ) suspended all in-person hearings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past two years, the Courts have continuously adapted to the reality posed by the pandemic by expanding virtual hearings and hybrid options through the use of technology. Virtual hearings, discoveries, and trials have now become a staple of civil litigation in Ontario. These much needed changes will now become a permanent part of litigation. On Thursday, March 17, 2022, Chief Justice Morawetz released a video announcement which outlined the Court’s guidelines for the mode of proceeding.

See an outline of the Court’s guidelines for the mode of proceeding here.