Superior Court of Justice – Trial Coordinator – Newmarket, ON

Judicial Scheduling and Case Management

The Trial Coordinator’s Office at the Newmarket Courthouse, located at 50 Eagle Street West, is the operational nerve center for the Superior Court of Justice (SCJ) in the Central East Region. While the judges preside over the cases, the Trial Coordinator and their staff are responsible for the complex logistics of scheduling these matters. This office manages the court dockets for criminal, civil, and family law proceedings, ensuring that courtrooms, judges, and court staff are allocated efficiently. They act as the primary liaison between the judiciary and the legal profession, handling the booking of trials, pre-trial conferences, and motions. This function is critical for maintaining the flow of justice and minimizing delays in a jurisdiction that serves a large and rapidly growing population. The office operates strictly within the procedural rules of the Superior Court, implementing the directives of the Regional Senior Justice.

Trial Scheduling and Rolls

One of the core duties of this office is managing the trial list. Lawyers and self-represented litigants must interact with the Trial Coordinator to secure trial dates. This involves a ‘To Be Spoken To’ court or assignment court process where the readiness of a case is assessed. The Coordinator ensures that all parties have completed the necessary steps-such as mandatory mediation or settlement conferences-before a trial date is fixed. In criminal matters, they coordinate with the Crown Attorney’s office and defence counsel to schedule jury and judge-alone trials, often balancing the constitutional requirement for a trial within a reasonable time (the Jordan framework) against limited court resources. They also manage the ‘running list,’ where cases are placed on standby to be heard as soon as a judge becomes available.

Family Law Administration

For family law matters, the Trial Coordinator’s role is particularly public-facing. They schedule case conferences, settlement conferences, and trial management conferences, which are mandatory steps in most family litigation involving divorce, custody, or access. The Coordinator’s office (often reachable via the specific Family Branch extension) confirms that all case briefs and necessary financial statements have been filed before confirming a judge’s availability. They also handle the scheduling of urgent motions where immediate judicial intervention is required for the safety of a child or party. Litigants are often required to file a ‘Trial Record’ with this office to officially place their case on the trial list.

Virtual Court Coordination

In the modern judicial landscape, the Trial Coordinator also plays a pivotal role in managing virtual hearings. They provide the Zoom coordinates and teleconference information to parties and the public for remote appearances. This office is the point of contact for troubleshooting connectivity issues and ensuring that the virtual courtroom is accessible to all participants. They also handle requests for special equipment, such as interpreters or assistive listening devices, ensuring that the court remains accessible to individuals with disabilities or language barriers.