Newmarket Courthouse Guide for Criminal Charges
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Charged with a criminal offence? Tell us what happened.
The short answer
Criminal charges laid in York Region, including charges from Newmarket and Vaughan, are generally heard at the Newmarket Courthouse at 50 Eagle Street West. It is the Ontario Court of Justice's base court location for York Region. Many early appearances are now held virtually, so the first thing to do is read your court papers carefully and confirm whether you must attend in person, by video or by phone.
Charged with a criminal offence?
Courthouse details
- Address: 50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket, ON L3Y 6B1.
- Courthouse office: (905) 853-4811 or yorkcrim@ontario.ca.
- Provincial Crown: (905) 853-4800 or VirtualCrownNewmarket@ontario.ca.
- Duty counsel: (905) 836-8580 or dcc.newmarket@lao.on.ca.
The federal prosecutor is represented in Newmarket by a standing agent, whose contact details are listed on the Ontario Court of Justice's Newmarket location page. For office and service hours, the court directs people to the Ministry of the Attorney General's court locations website, so check those hours before you travel.
Which communities and charges are heard here
Newmarket is the Ontario Court of Justice's base court location for York Region. That means adult criminal charges from across the region, including Newmarket, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill and Aurora, are generally heard at this courthouse. Provincial offences, such as many traffic tickets, are handled separately by York Region's provincial offences courts. Your court papers are the final word on where you must appear. See our criminal lawyer in Newmarket and criminal lawyer in Vaughan pages for local help.
Common charges heard here
The Newmarket Courthouse hears every kind of adult criminal charge that starts in the Ontario Court of Justice. Some of the most common include assault, domestic assault, impaired driving and refusal, theft, drug offences and charges that may resolve with a peace bond. Charges against young people follow the separate rules described on our youth criminal justice page.
Your first appearance
Your first court date is usually a case management appearance, sometimes called set date court. It is not a trial. According to the court's location page, case management appearances in Newmarket are held virtually. Matters for lawyers are heard from 9:00 a.m., and people without lawyers are dealt with later in the day, from 2:15 p.m. in the judicial case management courtroom.
A lawyer can usually appear for you by filing a designation, which is a document that lets the lawyer act on your behalf. If you do not have a lawyer yet, appear as your papers direct, keep your release documents nearby and ask for time to get legal advice.
Getting your disclosure
Disclosure is the evidence the police and prosecutor have gathered, such as police notes, video and witness statements. You need it before you can make any decision about your case. For most Criminal Code charges, disclosure comes from the provincial Crown Attorney. For federal drug charges, it comes from the federal prosecutor's standing agent. If you have a lawyer, the lawyer requests and reviews the disclosure for you.
Bail hearings in York Region
If police hold you after an arrest, you must generally be brought before a justice within 24 hours. A bail hearing decides whether you are released while your case continues, and on what conditions. Some charges carry a reverse onus, which means you must show why you should be released. Learn more about bail hearings, what a bail hearing is, show cause hearings and bail sureties.
Duty counsel and Legal Aid
Duty counsel are Legal Aid Ontario lawyers who give free, limited help at court. In Newmarket, duty counsel can be reached at (905) 836-8580 or dcc.newmarket@lao.on.ca. Duty counsel cannot usually take on your whole case, so it is wise to contact a lawyer well before your court date. To apply for a legal aid certificate, call Legal Aid Ontario toll free at 1-800-668-8258, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How a case moves through the Newmarket Courthouse
- First appearance: Your case is called in case management court, and your lawyer files a designation and asks for disclosure.
- Crown pre-trial: Your lawyer meets with the prosecutor to discuss the evidence and any possible resolution.
- Judicial pre-trial: For more serious or longer cases, a judge meets with both lawyers to narrow the issues and set a schedule.
- Plea court: If you decide to resolve the case with a plea, out-of-custody plea court is held on scheduled Mondays before the trial date.
- Resolution or trial: The case ends with a withdrawal, a peace bond, a plea or a trial.
Most cases take several months, and serious cases can take longer. Missing a court date can lead to a warrant for your arrest and a new charge.
Youth court
Young people aged 12 to 17 are dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which focuses on rehabilitation and limits who can see youth records. Parents should read the young person's papers closely, note where and how the young person must appear, and contact a lawyer early. See our youth criminal justice page.
Language and accessibility
You have the right to a trial in English or French under s. 530 of the Criminal Code, and you have the right to an interpreter if you do not understand the language of the proceedings. If you need an accommodation because of a disability, contact the courthouse office as early as possible so arrangements can be made before your court date.
What to do before your court date
- Read your release papers and note every date, time and condition.
- Confirm whether your appearance is virtual or in person.
- Contact a lawyer so a designation can be filed before your first date.
- Follow every release condition, including any no-contact condition.
- If you must attend in person, plan your travel and arrive early.
How we can help
We can file a designation so you may not need to attend early dates, obtain and review your disclosure and prepare for bail or trial at the Newmarket Courthouse. Call (647) 223-1980 for a free consultation. We accept Legal Aid Ontario certificates. Consultations in English, Punjabi and Hindi.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the criminal court for York Region?
Criminal cases from York Region are generally heard at the Newmarket Courthouse, 50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket. Your court papers confirm your exact location.
Are Vaughan criminal charges heard in Newmarket?
Newmarket is the Ontario Court of Justice's base court location for York Region, so criminal charges from Vaughan are generally heard there. Check your papers to confirm.
Do I have to go to court in person?
Case management appearances in Newmarket are held virtually, and a lawyer can often appear for you. Your papers will say how you must attend.
Is there duty counsel at the Newmarket Courthouse?
Duty counsel are available and can be reached at (905) 836-8580. They give limited free help, so contact a lawyer for ongoing representation.
Are traffic tickets heard at the Newmarket Courthouse?
Most provincial offences, such as many traffic tickets, are handled by York Region's provincial offences courts. Criminal driving charges, such as impaired driving, are heard in the Ontario Court of Justice.
What happens if I miss my court date?
A judge can issue a warrant for your arrest, and failing to attend is a separate criminal offence. Contact a lawyer right away if you have missed a date.