Presumptively Remote Court Hearings Update ~ February 2023

The Family Law Ad Hoc Steering Committee would like to assure our valued community that our efforts have continued with the new year and the momentum and determination remains strong amongst our members and supporters. 

Professors Nicholas Bala (Queen’s Law), Rachel Birnbaum (Social Work at Kings University College - Western) and Claire Houston (Law at Western) are currently developing a comprehensive survey as a study of experiences of family lawyers with the pandemic, virtual court etc. To better understand the current climate amongst the family law community regarding virtual hearings and if their experience have changed over time 

As some of you may recall, a panel of our committee members hosted a virtual press conference and virtual town hall in 2022. The committee and the professors conducting the research plan to do so again in the spring/summer of 2023 to provide everyone with updates on the progress that has been made, the survey results and feedback, the current state of presumptive hearings, and potential policy options to present to the Attorney General. 

We appreciate your continued support. Please help us in continuing to spread our message by sharing the petition with your networks to help us reach our goal of 1500 signatures. With your help, it will allow us to continue our mission to return all court attendances to be presumptively virtual unless the parties and their counsel agree otherwise or if the court for good reason orders that a particular attendance shall be in person or hybrid. 

Help the committee reach 1,500 signatures and spread the word by sharing this link with your colleagues. 

Stay tuned for update regarding Bencher Election 2023 and the issue of presumptively remote court hearings.

Russ