Lindsay Courthouse: A Practical Guide for Your Court Date
If you have been charged with a criminal offence in the City of Kawartha Lakes, your court date will most likely be at the Lindsay Courthouse at 440 Kent Street West. If you were charged in Haliburton County, your paperwork may instead send you to the satellite courthouse in Minden. This guide covers what you can count on at both: where to go, how to contact the court, what to bring, what happens at a first appearance, and how remote appearances work.
We have limited this guide to information we can confirm. Parking arrangements, courtroom assignments, and sitting schedules change, and guessing at them is not helpful. Where something depends on the day or on your case, we say so.
Where Is the Lindsay Courthouse?
The courthouse is at 440 Kent Street West, Lindsay, Ontario, K9V 6K2. Both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice sit here. Almost every criminal case starts in the Ontario Court of Justice. Depending on the charge and, for many indictable offences, the election you make, the trial may be heard in either court.
According to the Ministry of the Attorney General’s listing for the courthouse:
- Court offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Counter service is available Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- The criminal court office can be reached at 705-324-1400.
- The Crown Attorney’s office can be reached at 705-324-1420.
- The Victim/Witness Assistance Program can be reached at 705-324-1429.
If you need to file a document, pay a fine, or ask about a file in person, plan around the counter hours. The listing shows the courthouse accepts credit card, debit, cash, cheque, and money order.
The Minden Courthouse
Haliburton County is served by a satellite Ontario Court of Justice location at 7 Milne Street, Minden, Ontario, K0M 2K0. The province lists limited services there and asks visitors to call before attending to confirm what is offered and the hours of operation.
Two practical points:
- The phone numbers are Lindsay’s. The province lists the Lindsay court office (705-324-1400) and the Lindsay Crown Attorney’s office (705-324-1420) as the contacts for Minden matters.
- Payment options are narrower. The Minden listing shows cash, cheque, and money order only. If you need to pay by card, ask the court office how.
As always, attend the courthouse named on your paperwork. Your undertaking, release order, appearance notice, or summons states the courthouse, date, and time. If it says Minden, go to Minden. If your case is moved to Lindsay, the court will say so, and your lawyer will confirm the new date and location with you.
Who Lays Charges in the Area?
Charges in the region are laid mainly by three services:
- The Kawartha Lakes Police Service
- The City of Kawartha Lakes OPP detachment
- In Haliburton County, the Haliburton Highlands OPP detachment
Whichever service laid the charge, the case is prosecuted by the Crown Attorney’s office and heard in the courts described above. Our Lindsay location page lists the communities served and the charges we defend in the region.
Getting There and Arriving
Lindsay is reached by Highway 7 and Highway 35, and Minden sits on Highway 35 further north. For many people in Haliburton County and rural Kawartha Lakes, getting to court is a long drive. Check road conditions in winter and leave plenty of time.
Arrive early. Leave enough time to park, clear security screening, and find your courtroom before your matter is scheduled. If your name is called and you are not there, the court can issue a warrant for your arrest, and failing to attend court as required is itself a criminal offence.
Security Screening
Expect security screening when you enter, as at other Ontario courthouses.
- Do not bring knives, multi-tools, pepper spray, or anything that could be treated as a weapon. In cottage and hunting country, check your pockets and bag before you leave home.
- Keep bags simple.
- Follow the directions of court security officers.
- Silence your phone before entering a courtroom and follow any posted rules.
If you have a no-contact condition, the complainant may be at court on the same day. Keep your distance and let your lawyer deal with any issue.
What to Bring
- Your release paperwork or summons
- Government-issued photo identification
- Any documents from your lawyer
- A pen and notepad for your next court date
- Something to read while you wait
Finding Your Courtroom
Check the posted court lists or ask court staff where your matter is being heard. If your name does not appear, go to the court office and ask. Do not leave assuming your case was cancelled.
What Happens at a First Appearance
A first appearance is administrative. You will not be asked to plead, and no decision about guilt is made. Our guide to your first court appearance covers it in detail. In general:
- The Crown provides, or begins providing, disclosure. See our article on Crown disclosure in Ontario.
- If you have no lawyer yet, the matter is usually adjourned so you can retain one.
- You leave with a next court date.
Once you have a lawyer, your lawyer can often appear for you at early appearances. For clients in Haliburton County, that can save a long round trip for a short appearance. Confirm with your lawyer first. Until you are told otherwise, attend.
If Someone Is in Custody
If someone you know has been arrested and held for a bail hearing, the hearing may proceed in person or by video. A proposed surety should be ready to explain their relationship to the accused, their supervision plan, and their own circumstances. Read our guide to surety responsibilities before agreeing to take on the role. If bail is denied, a review may be available; see our article on bail reviews.
Virtual Appearances by Zoom
Many appearances in Lindsay take place by Zoom. Our virtual court directory lists the Lindsay courtroom links, including a bail court Zoom room shared with Cobourg. Our directory does not currently list separate Zoom links for Minden, so call the court office if you need the link for a Minden appearance.
- Join the right courtroom. If you are unsure, call the court office.
- Treat it like court. Find a quiet space, dress appropriately, and have your paperwork ready.
- Join early and stay muted until you are addressed.
- Confirm Zoom is permitted. Some appearances must be in person.
Rural internet can be unreliable. If you are joining from a cottage or a farm, test your connection ahead of time, and have the dial-in number from the directory as a backup.
Duty Counsel and Legal Aid
If you do not have a lawyer, ask court staff about duty counsel, lawyers funded by Legal Aid Ontario who can help unrepresented accused people with routine steps such as adjournments and bail. They can help on the day but do not take on your case as your own lawyer. If the charge could lead to a criminal record, jail, or a driving prohibition, read our article on whether you need a lawyer.
Accessibility
If you need a disability accommodation, contact the accessibility coordinator listed on the ontario.ca page for the courthouse as early as possible, with your court file number and the date and time of your appearance.
Tips for Your Court Date
- Confirm the courthouse, Lindsay or Minden, along with the date and time.
- Dress as you would for an important meeting.
- Keep your case out of hallway conversations.
- Follow your release conditions everywhere, including at the courthouse. See our guide to breach of bail conditions.
- Write down your next date before you leave.
How Mor Fisher Can Help
Mor Fisher LLP represents clients charged in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County from our Barrie and Toronto offices. On a new file, we get disclosure moving, confirm which appearances you need to attend, and deal with the Crown for you, which matters when court is a long drive away. We act on impaired driving, domestic assault, theft, weapons, and fish and wildlife charges, and on bail.
If you have a court date in Lindsay or Minden, contact Mor Fisher LLP at 705-721-6642 or through our contact page. Speaking with a lawyer early can spare you unnecessary trips to court and means you arrive knowing what to expect.