An Osgoode assistant professor has just been appointed to a working group that will be transforming civil justice in Ontario. Suzanne Chiodo is the only academic member of the Civil Rules Review Working Group, an initiative announced earlier this week by Attorney General Doug Downey and Chief Justice Morawetz of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
The Working Group will be reviewing the Rules of Civil Procedure, which govern civil non-family proceedings before the Ontario Superior Court. It will identify issues and develop proposals for reforming the Rules to make civil court processes more efficient, affordable, and accessible. Other members of the Working Group include judges and members of the private and public bar. The aim of the initiative is to increase access to justice; reduce cost, delay, and complexity; maximize the use of court resources; and leverage technical solutions.
“I am very proud to be the academic member of this committee”, said Professor Chiodo. “It’s exciting to be a part of improving access to civil justice in Ontario.”
The Working Group will begin consultations with civil justice system stakeholders in early 2024.