TORONTO -
An attempt by Ontario's top police officer to put a stop to a murky disciplinary hearing has been put on hold.
An Appeal Court judge on Monday pressed the two sides to come to a deal rather than have him rule on granting a stay.
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino argues the adjudicator should be thrown off the discipline case because he is biased against him.
Lower courts have ruled against Fantino and he wanted the court to halt proceedings until it decides whether to hear his appeal.
Instead, the hearings will likely now be scheduled to go ahead toward the end of April.
By that time, however, the Appeal Court will have decided whether it will hear Fantino's case.
The disciplinary hearing involves two senior provincial police officers Fantino accuses of misconduct and deceit.
The two officers had reviewed how police responded to a domestic dispute involving another officer in 2004 and concluded proper process was not followed.
However, Fantino himself has become embroiled in controversy amid defence allegations that the charges against the pair were politically motivated and vindictive.
The hearings ground to a halt as Fantino argued the adjudicator he appointed to hear the case was biased and had to be removed.
In new filings with the Ontario Court of Appeal, their lawyer makes fresh claims that the blunt-speaking officer has abused his authority by initiating a criminal investigation against a defence witness.
