Effective immediately, where the accused is represented by Counsel and where Crown and Defence Counsel agree, Summary Conviction Appeals involving Criminal Code offences may be submitted to the Court with written argument to be considered by way of desk application.
Priority will be given to Summary Conviction Appeals previously scheduled for a hearing between March 16, 2020 and June 26, 2020 and adjourned pursuant to the Court’s Master Orders.
All written arguments for all Counsel must be submitted together in accordance with the procedures outlined here. The subject line must indicate the action number. The materials must also indicate the date the Summary Conviction Appeal is/was scheduled to be heard. The Justice determining the appeal will not have ready access to any other materials (including materials previously filed.)
If the Justice decides that the appeal cannot be determined in writing, the Justice may direct Counsel to provide additional written argument or to a scheduling process for a hearing on all or some of the issues.
The Court’s response to the Summary Conviction Appeal will be returned electronically with an Endorsement setting out brief reasons; or requiring additional information, or directing the parties to a scheduling process for a hearing.