Provincial Judges in Ontario – Who are they?
In Ontario, most criminal and family law cases are heard in the Ontario Court of Justice by one of the many judges appointed by the province to ensure that justice is done. Provincial judges are lawyers who have practised law for a minimum of 10 years before their appointments to the bench. Justices of the Peace in Ontario – Who are they? Justices of the peace are also appointed by the province. Their assignments include conducting trials under the Provincial Offences Act or municipal by-laws, presiding at bail hearings, and conducting most criminal remand courts. When not in court, they perform a number of functions, including issuing search warrants. Most justices of the peace are not lawyers but must meet the qualifications set out in the Justices of the Peace Act. What does the colour of the sash indicate? • Judges wear red sashes • Justices of the peace wear green Ontario’s Justice System: In their roles, our provincial judges and justices of the peace have the difficult but vital
