Court Appearances (Provincial Offences)
Court Appearance Information
How to Appear for Provincial Offences Court | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Court proceedings in the Durham Provincial Offences Court may be held in-person or by Zoom audio/videoconferencing. Please read your notice carefully. If you are unsure if your matter is scheduled in-person or by Zoom, please contact the court office for more information. If your matter is scheduled by Zoom, joining by video is recommended as there is technological limitations when joining by telephone. Audio/Video Conferencing Connection Details: To connect by audio or videoconference, follow the directions below: 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. |
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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 (Guidelines re: Remote Hearings in the Ontario Court of Justice). |
What to expect during a virtual court proceeding |
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Submitting evidence prior to your hearing |
If your trial is by Zoom audio/videoconference, it is requested that evidence be uploaded to the court office at least five business days before your scheduled court date. Materials filed before your hearing are not yet evidence and will not be distributed or shared with an opposing party or judicial officer. It is the responsibility of the submitting party to present the materials and satisfy the presiding judicial officer that the materials should be admitted as evidence. To upload your electronic files, visit the Evidence Upload Portal. 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, contact the court office or email POAexhibits@durham.ca for instructions on how to submit your files. 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) If you are unable to file your materials electronically or you need assistance, please contact the court office or email POAexhibits@durham.ca for further instructions. |
Judicial Pre-trial Instructions |
If you have a judicial pre-trial, you are required to check-in by Zoom 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 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 by Zoom audio/videoconference. To join by 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 and you are being kept in the Zoom 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, 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. Audio recording of proceedings is permitted by counsel, paralegals licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, court staff, members of the media, and litigants provided it is done solely for note-taking purposes and the presiding judicial officer has been advised before the recording commences. Audio recording of proceedings is also permitted by members of the public provided it is done solely for note-taking purposes and the express permission of the presiding judicial officer is first obtained. These audio recordings cannot be transmitted. |
Prosecutor Contact Information |
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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 are unable to connect remotely (e.g., you do not have a phone or internet access) or 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.
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