Introducing Canadian Criminal Law Matter Plans
OMPN Team
Open Matter Plans Network
Today we are thrilled to announce the launch of 47 new matter plans covering the full spectrum of Canadian criminal law. This expansion represents months of collaboration with practitioners across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec.
What Is Covered
The new plans span the entire criminal litigation lifecycle, from initial retainer and bail hearings through to trial preparation, sentencing, and appeals. Each plan is tailored to the specific procedural requirements of its target jurisdiction.
- Summary conviction proceedings under Part XXVII of the Criminal Code
- Indictable offence proceedings including preliminary inquiries
- Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) proceedings with adult sentencing applications
- Summary conviction appeals to the Superior Court
- Indictable offence appeals to the Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction-Specific Timelines
Every plan includes dynamically calculated timelines based on court rules. When a triggering event occurs - such as a date of service or arraignment - the entire downstream deadline chain recalibrates automatically. This is particularly critical in criminal law where Jordan timelines impose strict presumptive ceilings on trial delay.
The Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Jordan (2016 SCC 27) established presumptive ceilings of 18 months for provincial court matters and 30 months for superior court matters. Our plans automatically track these ceilings and generate escalating alerts as they approach.
Practitioner Traps
Each plan surfaces the critical pitfalls that catch criminal law practitioners off guard. From missed election windows to inadequate Rowbotham applications, every trap maps to a PMS automation that prevents it before damage is done.
We are grateful to the Canadian criminal bar members who contributed their expertise to these plans. The community review process ensures that every plan reflects current practice and recent case law developments.