New expedited habeas corpus certificate application process for bail hearings

Published: October 23, 2023

To support efficiency in bail courts, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) now has an expedited process for habeas corpus application certificates.

While LAO already covers habeas corpus applications, this new expedited process for bail hearings allows for a simplified application process and timelier response.

Criteria for application

The new application is to be submitted in cases where a client was ready to proceed with a bail hearing, but the hearing was adjourned due to court or Crown unavailability.

To use the expedited application process, counsel will need to fill out the Lawyer assisted inmate request for legal aid service form: Habeas corpus application for bail, including a brief opinion regarding legal merit of the habeas corpus application, before submitting to gencasemgmt@lao.on.ca.

The tariff maximum for this certificate is 16 hours for all services other than attendance on the application.

More information

Lawyer assisted inmate request for legal aid service form: habeas corpus certificate application for bail.