Practical guides to Ontario criminal law — your rights, the court process, and what to expect at every stage.
Showing 67 articles
Withdrawn sexual assault charges are possible, but harder to achieve than in most other cases.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 mandatory cash bail deposit rules took effect August 17, 2026 — and were suspended by a Superior Court injunction two weeks later. Here is what the rules said, what the injunction changed, and what applies at a bail hearing right 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 3 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.
Navigating Toronto's criminal courthouses? This guide covers Old City Hall at 60 Queen Street West and Toronto North at 2201 Finch Avenue West.
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.
Heading to Barrie Courthouse for the first time? This practical guide covers directions, parking, security, courtrooms, and what to expect.
A practical guide to the A. Grenville & William Davis Courthouse in Brampton — parking, security, courtrooms, and what to expect.
Charged with breaching bail conditions in Ontario? Learn what counts as a breach, the penalties under s.145, and how to defend yourself.
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.
Facing criminal harassment or stalking charges in Ontario? Learn about s.264, penalties, restraining orders, peace bonds, and defence strategies.
Learn how pardons and record suspensions work in Canada, who is eligible, how to apply through the Parole Board, and how a sealed record affects your future.
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.
Learn how peace bonds work in Ontario — types, conditions, duration, breach consequences, and how they differ from a criminal conviction.
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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