Shawn Irving
Apr 28, 2020
Courts in Ontario have been forced to largely transition from a paper-based, in-person system to a remote operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Osler partner Shawn Irving tells The Globe and Mail that he expects routine scheduling matters to be heard virtually even when the pandemic is over. In her article, author Christine Dobby explains the impact of COVID-19 on the court system in Ontario along with the associated challenges and benefits of accelerating the use of technology in the court system. Shawn, a partner in Osler’s Litigation Group, has particular expertise in Insolvency and Restructuring Litigation and has attended several virtual hearings since March. He says that he expects to see a push to modernize courtrooms in the post-pandemic world.
“I think that we will see more and better use of technology in the courtroom, and that’s going to put pressure on governments to find funding to modernize the courtrooms as we all get more comfortable with relying on electronic materials as opposed to paper records," Shawn tells The Globe and Mail.
If you subscribe to The Globe and Mail online, read more in author Christine Dobby’s article, “Remote shifts in Ontario courts are for the better and should become permanent, judicial leaders say,” on April 28.