TORONTO

Ontario Superior Court suspends jury trials until February

Published Monday, December 14, 2020 2:37PM EST

Jury box in a courtroom at the Edmonton Law Courts building, in Edmonton on Friday, June 28, 2019. The president of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers is worried the justice system will try to delay jury trials as it deals with COVID-19 at the expense of the rights of those accused of a crime. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

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TORONTO -- Ontario's Superior Court of Justice has suspended jury trials in most parts of the province until February.

Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz says the suspension applies everywhere except in regions designated "green" under Ontario's COVID-19 pandemic response plan.

Trials will resume on Feb. 1 at the earliest.

The Monday notice from the court extends the move announced last month to suspend jury selection for new trials until Jan. 4.

Jury trials currently in progress can proceed at the discretion of the trial judge.

Morawetz says he strongly encourages virtual proceedings wherever possible.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2020.