As pandemic-related delays are tying up courts in some regions, Krista Norman's plan for an August wedding is slipping through her fingers.
Records show it was approved by a government agency in February. The next stop is a Superior Court judge in a Newmarket, Ont. courthouse, which seemed like an easy step given that both parties have already agreed on all aspects of the case.“In theory, it was supposed to be done by June at the latest. That was not the case,” Norman said.
Another issue is how many judges are there to handle the volume. The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada says that there are 3 vacancies out of 50 judges in Ontario’s Family Court, and 19 vacancies out of 205 positions in the Superior Court.Delays are such an issue that the Ontario Bar Association has put out an unusual call for people’s experiences in the courts.