Courtroom Staff
Judge: In a courtroom (or a motions room), the judge will be sitting on the elevated platform called a Bench. He/she presides over the hearing and makes rulings, decides disputes and issues orders. His or her formal title is Justice “X” or Madam Justice “Y”, but you may refer to the judge as “Your Honour”. The judge will be wearing a black gown with a red sash.Â
Court Registrar: Sitting near and below the Judge’s Bench is the Court Registrar. He or she wears a black gown. The Court Registrar hands material to the judge and keeps the records of the court organized. Any exhibits or documents to be given to the judge are to be handed to the Court Registrar.Â
Court Reporter: The person sitting opposite the Registrar is the Court Reporter who is responsible for ensuring that all of the court proceedings are properly recorded. You can order transcripts by hiring a private company for a prescribed fee.Â
Court Service Officers: Judges are assisted by Court Service Officers (CSOs). The CSO will be wearing a uniform that includes a dark blue blazer with the Ontario Coat of Arms on the pocket. They are court employees responsible for security, administration, and operational support. Their primary duties are maintaining order in the courtroom, assisting with case management, and ensuring that court procedures run efficiently. They announce the judge’s entry and exit from the courtroom. They make sure hearings start and end on time., minimizing delays. They can provide self-represented litigants with information about where to go, how to check in and what to expect in court.
Duty Counsel: There may be Duty Counsel, lawyers from Legal Aid Ontario, to assist people who cannot afford to hire lawyers or are self-represented.Â
Children’s lawyer: In some court cases, there may be a Children’s Lawyer appointed by the court to represent the interests of a minor child.Â
Counsel (Lawyers): Below the Judge’s Bench there is a bar that divides the courtroom. The public normally sits behind the bar and lawyers normally sit in front of it. Lawyers will be wearing black gowns.Â
Parties: The Applicant is the one who started the action while the Respondent is the one responding to the application.
Court Interpreter: When one of the parties or witnesses needs language assistanceCourt Reporter:Â The person sitting opposite the Registrar is the Court Reporter who is responsible for ensuring that all of the court proceedings are properly recorded. If you wish a transcript of all or part of your case, it will be provided to you by the Court Reporter for a prescribed fee.Â