Court Appearances (Provincial Offences)
Court Appearance Information
How to Appear / Zoom Connection Details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Durham Provincial Offences Court has begun conducting hybrid proceedings. If a matter is scheduled in courtroom #101, #102, #103 or #105, participants can either appear in-person at the courthouse or remotely by Zoom audio/video conference, unless otherwise ordered by a justice of the peace. For matters scheduled in #104, participants must appear as indicated on the Notice of Trial/Early Resolution, or as adjourned by the justice of the peace. Please note: if you are appearing by Zoom, joining by video is recommended as there is technological limitations when joining by telephone. To Join by Telephone:
To Join by Video:
A Zoom account is not required to participate in Zoom hearings. For more information on how to operate Zoom, view the Zoom User Guide for Remote Hearings in the Ontario Court of Justice. If you wish to download the Zoom application free of charge, visit https://zoom.us/. User tutorials for Zoom are available at http://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-Video-Tutorials. If you are disconnected from the court proceeding, immediately try to reconnect using the same Meeting ID and Passcode. If you are still having issues, please call the main office at 905-668-7711 or toll-free at 1-866-779-8839. Note: Recording/photographing/live streaming of court proceedings is strictly prohibited. It is an offence under Section 136 of the Courts of Justice Act, and may constitute contempt of court, to record, photograph, publish or broadcast court proceedings without express permission of the presiding judicial official. The Protocol Regarding the Use of Electronic Communication Devices in Court Proceedings remains in effect. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guidelines for virtual court appearances | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular court etiquette and decorum is expected to be followed in a virtual court environment. To ensure participation in virtual court appearances is as effective as possible, participants should follow the guidelines as outlined below:
More information regarding virtual court proceedings is available on the Ontario Court of Justice website (Remote Appearance Code of Conduct). |
What to expect during a virtual court proceeding |
|
Submitting evidence prior to your trial |
Evidence will only be accepted for trial matters. Please do not upload files for early resolutions or judicial pre-trials. Evidence should be uploaded to the court office at least five business days before your scheduled trial date. To upload your electronic files, visit the Evidence Upload Portal. Prior to uploading, your electronic files must be named using the following format: DEFENDANT'S LAST NAME, First Name - File Number - Brief Description of File. (Example: DOE, John - 12-1234 - Photograph of Main Street and First Avenue)
Please note: PDF files are the preferred file format but .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .png, .tif are also accepted. If you have a file that is larger than 15MB or you need assistance, contact the court office or email POAexhibits@durham.ca for instructions on how to submit your files. |
Judicial Pre-trial Instructions |
It is recommended to appear remotely by Zoom for your JPT, unless otherwise ordered by a Justice of the Peace. If you have a judicial pre-trial, you are required to check-in either by Zoom or in-person at the courthouse with the clerk at 8:30 a.m. on the day your matter is scheduled. You will be assigned a timeslot for your pre-trial based on each participant's availability. Pre-trial timeslots are set in half-hour increments and are scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Once you have been assigned a timeslot, you are required to rejoin/appear at court at that time. If a participant fails to appear for their assigned time, it is up to the discretion of the Justice of the Peace on how the matter will proceed. Pre-trials are currently held in Courtroom #105. To join by Zoom video, go to www.zoom.us/join. To join by telephone, call 1-647-374-4685 or (toll-free) 1-855-703-8985. Once prompted, enter Meeting ID: 2860999105 / Passcode: 2860105. Note: Pre-trials are closed to the public. If you are you trying to join the courtroom by Zoom and you are being kept in the waiting room, a pre-trial may be in session. Please be patient as the clerk will admit you once the courtroom is open. |
What should I do if I missed my court date? |
If you missed your court date, immediately contact the court office at 905-668-3130 or toll-free at 1-866-779-8839 to inquire about your matter. |
Can I listen to an audio/videoconference court proceeding as a member of the public/media? |
All Provincial Offences Court proceedings are open to the public, subject to judicial direction or order, and with the exception of pre-trials. If you are interested in observing POA court proceedings, please contact the court office at 905-668-3130, or toll-free at 1-866-779-8839, for the most up-to-date court schedule. If you are wanting to observe remotely by Zoom, it is recommended that you connect through videoconference and rename yourself as "Observer" before joining. Please note that the court will not be accessible during recesses/lunches. Please see the tab above called "Zoom connection information" for the applicable Meeting IDs and Passcodes. |
Prosecutor Contact Information |
|
Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases |
The Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases provides defendants with general information about the court process for Provincial Offences. It does not provide legal advice. It does not cover every circumstance that might arise in your case. |
Accessibility |
If you or your representative would like to request a disability-related assistance or accommodation, please contact the court office in advance of your court date by emailing accessibilitypoa@durham.ca or call 905-668-3130 (toll-free at 1-866-779-8839). |
Information on How to Pay a Fine |
Please attend our Court Services webpage for more information on how to pay your fine. |
For all other information regarding court services, please attend our Court Services webpage.
Contact Us