An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mega-trials)

Short title: Fair and Efficient Criminal Trials Act Bill C-53 (40-3) Status: At second reading in the House of Commons Type: House Government Bill Sponsor: Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice (Niagara Falls) Latest stage: First reading Legislative

summary <div>A legislative

summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive

summary is available. <br/><br/>On 1 November 2010, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-53,

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mega-trials) (Fair and Efficient Criminal Trials Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading.<br/><br/>Bill C-53 amends the Criminal Code. Among other things it<br/><br/>• allows for the appointment of a judge as a case management judge;<br/><br/>• defines the role and the powers of a case management judge;<br/><br/>• allows a joint hearing of preliminary motions involving similar evidence that arise in related but separate trials.<br/><br/>• allows for delayed severance orders;<br/><br/>• streamlines the use of direct indictments preferred under

section 577;<br/><br/>• improves the protection of the identity of jurors;<br/><br/>• increases the maximum number of jurors who can hear the evidence on the merits; and<br/><br/>• provides that, in the case of a mistrial, certain decisions made during the trial are binding on the parties in any new trial.</div> House of Commons — First reading: Completed (2010-11-02) House of Commons — Second reading: No activity LEGISinfo: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/40-3/c-53