Posted in Professional Notice

Please see the following Notice to the Profession Regarding Criminal Proceedings from Chief Justice Geoffrey B. Morawetz dated April 26, 2024, regarding the New Revised Criminal Proceedings Rules & Pre-Trial Conference Form.

The Ontario Superior Court’s new Criminal Proceedings Rules will come into effect on May 27, 2024, and can be found here on the Court’s website.

Please note, effective April 1, 2024, Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) will prepare Gladue Reports in the Peel Region. They have taken on this role following a request to from The Indigenous Network (TIN). The following sets out ALS’ policies and practices with respect to the preparation of Gladue Reports.

Gladue Reports
Gladue Reports will only be prepared following a guilty plea or a finding of guilt. ALS will not prepare a Gladue Report in anticipation of a guilty plea. Gladue Reports are prepared by Gladue Writers when the Crown’s position on sentencing is a custodial sentence over 120 days. 2 Gladue Reports generally take 8 weeks to prepare barring any extenuating circumstances.

To Request a Gladue Report
Gladue Reports can be requested using their online fillable form which can also be located on their website: https://www.aboriginallegal.ca/gladue.html. Please do not assume that someone else in the courthouse will complete the form. An order from the Court for a Gladue Report will not trigger a request to ALS. If they do not receive a completed form, they cannot assign the request.

Next Steps
ALS will be hiring a Gladue Writer for the Peel Region shortly. In the interim, they will handle incoming requests with their existing staff.

While a comprehensive Gladue Report generally takes eight weeks to complete, there may be a longer turnaround time until ALS can hire additional Gladue Writers to assist with this transition. If a request will take longer than eight weeks, a detailed letter will be sent to all parties explaining the status of the file, and the work that remains.

TIN will maintain the Gladue Aftercare Program to assist clients after the Gladue Report is completed. TIN will also continue to prepare Gladue Letters in cases where the Crown position is 120 days or less.

If a previous Gladue Report request was made through TIN, the request will need to be resubmitted to ALS for completion. Any information pertaining to the previous request will be appreciated and can be detailed on the Gladue Report request form.

TIN and ALS are committed to assisting Indigenous clients in the Peel Region throughout this transition period. ALS will prepare Gladue Reports, and TIN will continue preparing Gladue Letters along with their Gladue Aftercare Program.

Disclaimer:  For your information only and does not necessarily represent the views of the Board of Directors of The Peel Law Association.

As a friendly reminder, the updated Notice to the Profession and Parties - Central West Region is effective as of today, September 1, 2023.

Please make note of the updates that relate to proceedings in Brampton.

Thank you,
Peel Law Association

This correspondence is being sent on behalf of Regional Senior Justice Leonard Ricchetti. 

Please see the attached correspondence that was released to parties’/counsels’ attention, in regards to Calendly Scheduling Issues due to improper Conduct and Directions not being followed.

Re: Calendly Scheduling Issues due to Improper Conduct and lack of followed Directions (dated August 21, 2023)

The PLA would also encourage all counsel to familiarize yourself with the updated Notice to the Profession and Parties - Central West Region that will be effective on September 1, 2023. The practice direction outlines the correct usage of Calendly and notes the consequences of inappropriate scheduling conduct.

Thank you,
Peel Law Association

Please see below for a message sent on behalf of Justice Paul T. O'Marra (OCJ Local Administrative Justice - Criminal).

Counsel Communications with the Ontario Court of Justice via the Trial Coordinator’s Office (July 19, 2023)