On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the Criminal Justice Section opened its CPD program season with “Unique Pre-Trial Applications: Severance, Particulars, & Release of Exhibits for Scientific Testing.” This program was chaired by Amanda Ross, a partner at Goldbloom Ross Cunningham LLP, and the past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section.
The faculty included The Honourable Justice James Stribopoulos, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, John Rosen, Rosen & Company Barristers, and Karen Simone, Assistant Crown Attorney, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Law Office – Criminal. The esteemed panelists shared the perspectives from the Bench, the Crown, and the criminal defence Bar. Their respective views and insights helped the attendees to unravel the important factors, critical timelines, and procedural particularities of these powerful but often misunderstood and underused pre-trial applications. Importantly, these pre-trial motions are designed to resolve legal issues that may affect the conduct or fairness of the trial.