A courthouse is a solemn place. It is important to be respectful and act appropriately when attending court. Being prepared in advance can make the process easier.
You must appear in person on the day of your trial. If the party making the claim does not appear, their case will be dismissed. If the party defending the case does not appear, the other party can make their case without the defendant present. The judge can decide if they have proved their case without hearing from the defendant.
It is important to arrive early as you will need time to go through security and find the courtroom. You may be searched for security purposes. Do not bring anything that may be considered a weapon. You can ask court staff where the courtroom for your matter is located. Once in the courtroom, let the court clerk know that you are there.
A case cannot be adjourned, even if the parties agree, without the permission of the court. In some circumstances the party that causes or seeks an adjournment can be required to pay the costs incurred because of the delay.
In the courtroom, it is important to be respectful. You should follow these rules:
Court hearings are open to the public. It is a principle of the Canadian justice system that people can see and hear what happens in court. Although people can be in the courtroom, no one in the courtroom is allowed to record anything. They also cannot use phones or computers to send messages to people outside the court while court is going on. The only exception to this is for members of the media who are allowed to for the purposes of informing their readers or viewers.
PLEA offers free online training on preventing and addressing workplace harassment.