Rules of the Supreme Court, 1986
Criminal Proceedings Rules of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

PRACTICE NOTE

P.N. No. 2024-02

• Date Issued: November 14, 2024
• Rules Affected: N/A
• Effective Date: Upon Publication
• Previous Practice Notes Revised: Practice Note No. 2014-01 (Requesting Installation of Special Equipment for Criminal, Civil, and Family Trials), issued June 13, 2014

REQUESTING INSTALLATION OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT OR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR CRIMINAL, CIVIL, AND FAMILY MATTERS

Background and Purpose

1. From time to time, parties request to install special equipment in courtrooms for presenting evidence or other purposes. Examples include special monitors or playback equipment for electronic or digital evidence.
2. Parties may also request the use of specific computer applications for displaying electronic or digital evidence.
3. This Practice Note provides guidance to:
   • (a) assist parties in making such requests; and
   • (b) reduce delays caused by malfunctioning equipment or the inability to display evidence properly.
4. This Practice Note modernizes and expands on the previous note and applies to all Supreme Court centres.

Practice Note

5. Parties must complete and file the following forms to indicate whether certain evidence or special courtroom equipment is required:
   • Pre-Trial Report (CR Form 9.04, Section 32) for criminal proceedings;
   • Certificate of Readiness (Form 40.04A, Section 3(c)) for civil trials;
   • Request for a Trial (Family Law) (Form 29.02A, Part E) for family trials.
6. Additionally, parties requiring specialized equipment or computer applications in the courtroom must contact the Registry in writing at least two weeks before the trial’s start.
7. Requests can be made via email to the appropriate Court centre:

Email Requirements

8. The email must include:
   • (a) The name and contact information of the requesting party;
   • (b) The style of cause and file number;
   • (c) The scheduled start date of the matter;
   • (d) The nature of the equipment or application required; and
   • (e) Whether the equipment or application will be provided by the party or requested from the Court.
9. The Registry will:
   • Determine the availability of requested equipment or applications;
   • Inform the requesting party if unavailable, requiring the party to provide the equipment; and
   • Review and approve any computer application use through the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
10. Once installed, the requesting party must test the equipment or application with the intended media no later than two days before trial to avoid delays caused by malfunctions.

Authorized By:

Raymond P. Whalen
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Susan Foss
Registrar of the Supreme Court

View the notice here.

Posted: November 21, 2024