The Ontario government is planning to unveil new legislation aimed at expediting judicial appointments, increasing the number of judges in the Ontario Court of Justice, and establishing new prosecution teams.
The Progressive Conservative government has revealed that the proposed changes will introduce a pool-based recommendation system for judicial appointments, designed to simplify the process while adhering to standards set by the attorney general.
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Additionally, the government plans to appoint 17 extra judges to help manage the increasing complexity of cases and the backlog of criminal matters in the lower courts.
The proposed legislation will also establish a new prosecution team focused on cybercrime and cryptocurrency offenses.
Last year, Premier Doug Ford faced backlash when two former aides were appointed to the judicial appointments committee, but he argued that it was the Progressive Conservatives’ mandate to appoint judges who shared their ideology.
The province asserts that the new legislation reflects its commitment to being “tough on crime” and ensuring that repeat, violent offenders remain incarcerated.
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