Practical guides to Ontario criminal law — your rights, the court process, and what to expect at every stage.
Showing 102 articles
What separates first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter in Canada: what the Crown must prove, the sentences, and parole eligibility.
What 'stayed', 'withdrawn', 'to be spoken to', remand, designation, case management court and other Ontario criminal court terms actually mean.
Uploading police disclosure to an AI chatbot can expose your case, the people in it, and you. What happens to that data, and the safer way to review it.
AI chatbots are good at explaining public law. Defending a criminal charge depends on knowledge that was never published. Here is the difference.
Section 24(2) of the Charter lets courts exclude evidence obtained through rights violations. Learn the three-part test and how it can change the outcome of your case.
Court date at 440 Kent St W in Lindsay or the Minden courthouse? What to bring, what happens at a first appearance, and how Zoom court works in the region.
Going to court at 491 Steeles Ave E in Milton, or at the Burlington courthouse? What to bring, what happens at a first appearance, and how Zoom court works.
Heading to the Orangeville (County of Dufferin) Courthouse at 10 Louisa St? What to bring, what happens at a first appearance, and how Zoom court works.
Section 10(b) of the Charter guarantees your right to a lawyer upon arrest or detention. Learn what police must do, what happens when they fail, and how it affects your case.
Section 8 of the Charter protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. Learn when police can search you, your car, or your home — and what happens when they cross the line.
Section 9 of the Charter protects you from arbitrary detention. Learn when police can lawfully detain you, what makes a detention arbitrary, and how breaches affect your case.
You have the right to defend yourself in criminal court. Here is what the system expects of a self-represented accused, and where people get caught.
Reported decisions show where the legal boundaries are, not what normally happens. Why reading case law can mislead you about your own criminal charge.
Facing a bail hearing in Newmarket? How York Region bail courts assess a release plan, how conditions are set, and how to avoid terms you cannot follow.
Held for bail in Brampton? When the Criminal Code shifts the burden to the accused, what the reverse onus test now requires, and how to build a plan to meet it.
Arrested in Durham Region but living elsewhere, or arrested elsewhere on Durham charges? How bail works in Oshawa for out-of-town accused and sureties.
Charged with domestic assault in Barrie? How police undertakings and release orders work, what no-contact conditions mean, and how to change them lawfully.
Facing a Peel domestic assault charge? How a peace bond, a guilty plea with a discharge, and a trial compare, and the questions that decide which path fits you.
Your partner wants the York Region domestic assault charge dropped. What they can do, what you must not do, and how the Newmarket case actually moves forward.
A Durham Region domestic assault charge with children involved? How criminal conditions, family court parenting orders, and CAS involvement affect each other.
Charged with domestic assault in Orillia? What the charge can mean for your firearms licence and immigration status, and why those risks shape your defence.
Charged with impaired driving and over 80 in Brampton, Mississauga, or Caledon? How the two charges differ, what the Crown must prove for each, and where they are defended.
Charged with impaired driving or boating in Muskoka? How the Criminal Code applies to boats, what differs on the water, and what to expect at the Bracebridge and Huntsville courts.
Charged with impaired driving in Barrie? A stage-by-stage guide to your case at 75 Mulcaster Street: first appearance, disclosure, resolution talks, and trial.
Charged with impaired driving after a crash in Milton, Oakville, Burlington, or Halton Hills? How a collision changes the charges, the evidence, and the court process.
Commuter or visitor charged with impaired driving in Oshawa, Whitby, or Ajax? Why the case stays in Durham, whether you must attend court, and how to manage it from home.
Charged with refusing a breath test in York Region? How refusal charges work, what counts as a refusal, the defences, and what to expect at the Newmarket courthouse.
Police want you to come in and clear things up, or say you're just a witness. Why a statement never helps, the two questions to ask, and what to do next.
A family member arrested in Simcoe County and held for bail? What happens next at the Barrie courthouse, how to prepare as a surety, and what to bring.
A plain-language guide to dangerous offender applications in Ontario: Crown notice, the 60-day assessment, the hearing, possible sentences, and parole review.
How long-term offender designations and supervision orders work in Canada: the legal test, LTSO conditions, who supervises, breach charges, and the LTO route.
A dated, sourced timeline of Canada's assault-style firearms prohibitions from May 2020 to 2026: regulations, amnesty orders, Bill C-21, compensation and the SCC appeal.
Bill C-21 became law on December 15, 2023, but its provisions took effect in stages. The handgun freeze, red and yellow flags, new offences, and what stayed the same.
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear four appeals against the May 2020 firearms prohibition. The history, the legal questions and what each outcome could mean.
The prohibited firearms amnesty now runs until 90 days after the Supreme Court rules. What it protects, what it does not, and your options if you declared or did not.
Withdrawn sexual assault charges are possible, but harder to achieve than in most other cases. Here is why Crown policy and public pressure make it difficult, and what actually moves a file toward withdrawal before trial.
A step-by-step guide to exporting text messages from an iPhone or Android device — including using iMazing — so your lawyer receives a complete, organized, court-ready record.
Ontario's cash bail deposit rules took effect August 17, 2026 and were suspended by a court injunction on August 31. What the rules said and what applies now.
Ontario's reduced suspension program can cut a one-year licence suspension to three months, or a three-year suspension to nine. How Streams A, B, and D work, why the 90-day deadline matters, and why going to trial does not mean waiting it out without a licence.
Ontario lengthened its roadside suspensions and, as of July 1, 2026, added a six-month zero-tolerance condition after the interlock comes off. Here is the current picture on both the provincial and the Criminal Code side, with the claims circulating online corrected.
How criminal charges and convictions affect your employment in Ontario — your rights under the Human Rights Code, disclosure obligations, and record checks.
What to look for when hiring a criminal defence lawyer in Ontario — questions to ask, red flags to avoid, and how to find the right fit for your case.
Joint submissions offer certainty while open sentencing lets both sides argue freely. Understand the key differences and when each applies.
Gathering evidence early can strengthen your defence. Learn what to collect, how to preserve it, and critical mistakes to avoid after charges.
Choosing between a jury trial and judge-alone trial is a major strategic decision. Learn the key factors that guide this choice in Ontario.
Crown pre-trial conferences are where resolution discussions begin. Learn what happens at a CPT, who attends, and why preparation matters.
Court date in Sundridge? This guide covers Highway 11 directions, parking, limited sitting days, security screening, and how to prepare for court day.
Charged in Bradford? The courthouse at 57 Holland Street East is a Barrie-district satellite. This guide covers where to go, parking, security, and what to expect.
Heading to Parry Sound courthouse? This guide covers Highway 400 access, parking on James Street, security screening, and what to expect on court day.
Attending the Huntsville courthouse at 36 Chaffey Street? Directions from Highway 11, parking, security, and practical tips for court day.
Reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof in law. Learn what it means, how courts apply it, and why it matters for every element of your criminal case.
The gap between charges being withdrawn and being able to prove you were falsely accused is enormous. Here is why malicious prosecution and public mischief charges almost never follow an acquittal — and the policy reasons behind that.
A guide to criminal appeals in Ontario — grounds for appeal, strict timelines, bail pending appeal, and what the Court of Appeal can do with your case.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse — section 19 of the Criminal Code says so. Here is what that rule actually means, when it bites (bail conditions, niche offences, regulatory charges), and the very narrow exceptions.
Attending the Midland courthouse at 605 Yonge Street? Directions, parking, security screening, and practical tips for your court date.
Regret, disappointment, and bad sexual experiences are not crimes. Learn how the post-Ghomeshi charging culture has changed sexual assault prosecutions in Ontario.
Sexual assault allegations increasingly surface during separations and custody battles. Learn how parallel proceedings create false complaints and how we defend them.
Your guide to the Bracebridge courthouse at 3A Dominion Street — directions, parking, security screening, and what to expect on court day.
Mor Fisher LLP is the Barrie-area criminal defence firm closest to CFB Borden. A guide for CAF members on civilian versus military prosecution, MP investigations, and the career consequences of a charge.
Visiting the Oshawa courthouse at 150 Bond Street East? This guide covers parking, security screening, courtroom layout, and what to expect on your day.
Toronto's criminal courts are at 10 Armoury Street, with bail at 2201 Finch Ave W. Where to go, getting there, security, duty counsel and what to expect.
One of the most common questions in criminal defence: if the underlying charges are withdrawn, what happens to the breach charges? The answer is not what most people expect.
After years of advocacy, thousands of documents reviewed, and a direct indictment at Superior Court, the Crown withdrew all criminal fraud charges against our client Matthew Tayler.
Barrie Courthouse at 75 Mulcaster Street: parking, security screening, courtrooms and what to expect on your court date, from local defence lawyers.
Charged with breaching bail conditions in Ontario? Learn what counts as a breach, the penalties under s.145, and how to defend yourself.
Visiting the A. Grenville & William Davis Courthouse at 7755 Hurontario St, Brampton? Parking, security, courtrooms and what to expect on your day.
Facing criminal harassment or stalking charges in Ontario? Learn about s.264, penalties, restraining orders, peace bonds, and defence strategies.
A practical guide to Collingwood Courthouse at 49 Huron Street — parking, security, courtrooms, court schedules, and what to expect on your first visit.
Learn how absolute and conditional discharges work under s.730 of the Criminal Code, who qualifies, and how a discharge can keep your record clean.
How a pardon (record suspension) works in Canada: who qualifies, the waiting periods, applying to the Parole Board, and what a suspended record means.
Learn what Crown disclosure is, what it includes, when you should receive it, and how your criminal defence lawyer uses it to build your case.
Charged with fail to remain (hit and run) in Ontario? Learn about s.320.16 penalties, Crown elements, common defences, and how to protect your licence.
Facing fraud charges in Ontario? Learn the Criminal Code definition, penalties for fraud under and over $5,000, defence strategies, and more.
Charged and waiting too long for trial? Learn how s. 11(b) of the Charter and the Jordan framework can lead to your charges being stayed.
Heading to Newmarket Courthouse at 50 Eagle Street West? Here is everything you need to know about parking, security, courtrooms, and what to expect.
Everything you need to know about the Orillia Courthouse — location, parking, courtrooms, what to expect, and how to prepare for your court date.
A peace bond is a court order to keep the peace, not a criminal conviction. How peace bonds work in Ontario: conditions, how long they last, and breaches.
Understand your right to silence during police questioning in Ontario, common interrogation tactics, and how to protect yourself from false confessions.
Charged with shoplifting or theft under $5,000 in Ontario? Learn about penalties, diversion programs, discharges, and how to protect your record.
Understand self-defence under Section 34 of the Criminal Code — the three legal elements, the nine factors courts weigh, and what to do after an incident.
Learn how stays of proceedings work in Ontario criminal cases, including abuse of process claims, Charter remedies, and the Jordan framework.
Thinking about testifying at your criminal trial? Learn how direct and cross-examination work, how to prepare, and common mistakes to avoid.
Convicted of a criminal offence in Ontario? Learn how sentencing works, the types of sentences available, and your right to appeal.
A parent's guide to the Youth Criminal Justice Act — how youth charges differ from adult cases, sentences, records, and your role in the process.
Criminal driving conviction in Ontario? You face BOTH a court driving prohibition AND an automatic MTO licence suspension. Learn how these penalties stack and escalate.
Facing a charge with a mandatory minimum sentence in Ontario? Learn which offences carry minimums, how they work, and how a lawyer can help.
Learn who qualifies for a preliminary inquiry in Ontario after Bill C-75, how the process works, and when requesting one is a smart defence strategy.
Learn the differences between summary conviction, indictable, and hybrid offences in Canada — and how the Crown's election shapes your entire criminal case.
Charged with an indictable offence in Ontario? Learn about your election — choosing trial by judge alone or judge and jury — and how it affects your case.
Charged with domestic assault in Ontario? Learn what happens after arrest, your bail conditions, no-contact orders, defence options, and how to protect your future.
Charged for the first time in Ontario? Learn about diversion, discharges, and sentencing options that could keep your record clean.
Charged with a crime in Ontario? Learn what happens at your first court appearance, from checking in to adjournment, and how to prepare.
Understanding reasonable and probable grounds, how police decide to lay charges, and why 'no evidence' cases are more common — and more defensible — than you think.
An in-depth guide to the Charter sections that matter most in criminal defence — and how violations can get your charges dropped.
A comprehensive guide to the responsibilities, risks, and procedures involved in acting as a surety for someone who has been charged with a criminal offence.
What to do if you were denied bail, how bail reviews work in Superior Court, and the automatic 90-day review process for people detained in custody.
A practical guide to preserving text messages, call records, social media, and other digital evidence — and how to give it to your lawyer in a useful format.
A practical guide to the most common bail variation requests in Ontario — what is realistic, what the Crown typically opposes, and how to get restrictive conditions changed.
What happens when the complainant is 'offside' — recanting, uncooperative, or asking the Crown to withdraw charges — and why it doesn't automatically end your case.
Charged with a crime in Ontario? Learn why hiring a criminal defence lawyer matters, what they actually do, and how to protect your future.
Pulled over for impaired driving in Barrie or Simcoe County? Learn what happens at a DUI stop, your legal rights, common defences, and penalties under Ontario law.
Know your legal rights when stopped by police in Ontario. Learn what you must say, what to refuse, and how to protect yourself from unlawful searches.
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