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Durham Region
Oshawa criminal defence lawyers.
Charged in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax or Pickering? Your appearances are virtual, in Courtroom 108.
Durham Region Courthouse · 150 Bond Street East, Oshawa, ON L1G 0A2
Recognized by
The lawyers at Daniel Brown Law have defended people at Oshawa court on charges from impaired driving and domestic assault to sexual offences and homicide. The firm is named one of Canada's Best Law Firms by The Globe and Mail, a Top Criminal Law Boutique by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, and ranked Tier 1 in Canada for criminal defence and appellate law by Best Law Firms. Five of its lawyers are listed in The Best Lawyers in Canada for criminal defence and four more are named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2027, and it is a frequent winner of the Toronto Star Readers' Choice Awards.
Oshawa courthouse
Criminal matters from Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Courtice and Brooklin are heard at the Durham Region Courthouse.
| Address | 150 Bond Street East, Oshawa, ON L1G 0A2 Get directions |
|---|---|
| Courthouse | 905-743-2640[email protected] |
| Court office | 905-743-2800Ontario Court of Justice and Youth Court |
| Provincial Crown | 905-743-2700[email protected] |
| Federal Crown | 905-723-2278Standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada — [email protected]. For Ajax and Pickering, 905-240-1504 / [email protected] |
| Duty counsel | 905-728-3801Oshawa duty counsel office |
Where and when you appear
Most appearances in Oshawa are virtual. These are the courtrooms an Oshawa case moves through.
| Courtroom | Who appears | When | Join |
|---|---|---|---|
| 108Adult criminal & drugs | Adults, criminal and drug chargesCourt appearances for adults begin at 9:00 a.m. | Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m. | Zoom ID 696 9831 4908 Passcode 813499 |
| 108vAdult overflow | Adults, as directedUsed alongside 108 — check your notice for which room | Mon–Fri | Zoom ID 696 2656 6709 Passcode 185058 |
| 101Youth court | Young personsAll youth criminal matters | As scheduled | Zoom ID 633 4503 1777 Passcode 115742 |
Join by telephone on 1-855-703-8985. Court schedules change — confirm your courtroom and time on the notice you were given.
What happens next
Nothing is decided at a first appearance. This is the order an Oshawa case actually moves in.
First appearance
The court confirms you have counsel and sets the next date. Your lawyer can appear for you, so you do not need to attend.
Disclosure
The Crown provides its evidence. Your lawyer reviews it, identifies what is missing, and assesses how strong the case against you actually is.
Crown and judicial pre-trial
Counsel meets the Crown, and then a judge, to narrow the issues and test whether the case resolves or goes to trial.
Resolution or trial
Either a negotiated outcome, or a trial date with a preliminary hearing where one is available. Most cases end well before this point.
Impaired driving, assault and sexual assault charges in Durham Region
These are the charges we are asked about most at the Oshawa courthouse. Each links to our full guide.
Impaired driving charges in Oshawa
Durham Regional Police lay impaired driving, over 80 and refusal charges, and they are heard at the Durham Region Courthouse at 150 Bond Street East. Your licence is already suspended: every drinking and driving charge in Ontario carries an immediate 90-day administrative suspension, before any finding of guilt. A first conviction brings a criminal record and a driving prohibition of at least one year. Most cases turn on how the breath evidence was gathered, not on whether you had a drink. Read our impaired driving guide.
Assault charges in Durham Region
Assault charges run from simple assault, with a maximum of 5 years, to aggravated assault, with a maximum of 14. None carries a mandatory minimum sentence, so a discharge, which avoids a conviction, is available for every assault charge except aggravated assault. Some charges are withdrawn, sometimes in exchange for a peace bond. How assault charges are defended. Domestic assault charges.
Sexual assault charges at Oshawa court
The Crown must prove three things: an intentional touching, that it was sexual in nature, and that there was no consent. If it fails on any one of them, the charge fails. The maximum sentence is 10 years, or 14 if the complainant is under 16, and a conviction can bring sex offender registration. Consent is usually where these cases are decided. Our sexual assault defence guide.
Charges we defend
- s. 245Administering a noxious substance
- s. 433Arson
- s. 266Assault
- s. 239Attempted murder
- s. 515Bail hearings
- s. 679Bail pending appeal
- s. 348Break and enter
- s. 172.1Child luring
- s. 163.1Child Pornography
- —Coercive control
- s. 675Criminal appeals
- s. 264Criminal harassment
- ss. 219–221Criminal negligence
- s. 320.13Dangerous driving
- s. 162.1Distributing an intimate image
- s. 266Domestic assault
- CDSA 4Drug possession
- CDSA 5Drug trafficking
- s. 346Extortion
- —Extradition
- s. 145Fail to appear at court
- s. 145Fail to comply with bail
- s. 320.16Failing to remain at the scene
- ss. 91–95Firearm and weapon possession
- ss. 99–103Firearms trafficking
- s. 279Forcible confinement
- s. 380Fraud
- s. 320.14Impaired driving
- CDSA 6Importing drugs
- s. 430Mischief
- ss. 229–236Murder and manslaughter
- s. 129Obstruct police
- s. 810Peace bonds
- ss. 85–87Pointing or using a firearm
- s. 140Public mischief
- s. 320.15Refusing a breath sample
- ss. 343–344Robbery
- s. 271Sexual assault
- s. 153Sexual exploitation
- s. 334Theft and shoplifting
- s. 264.1Uttering threats
- s. 162Voyeurism
- s. 88Weapon for a dangerous purpose
- YCJAYoung offenders
Charged with something you can’t see here?
Get advice today Call 416-297-7200Frequently asked questions
Where is the Oshawa courthouse?
Most Oshawa criminal cases are heard at the Durham Region Courthouse at 150 Bond Street East, Oshawa, ON L1G 0A2. Both Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice matters are heard at the same building.
What should I do if I have been charged by Durham Regional Police?
Do not speak to police beyond identifying yourself. Anything you say can be used against you at trial. Speak to a criminal defence lawyer before your first court appearance so disclosure can be reviewed.
Does Daniel Brown Law represent clients at Oshawa court?
Yes. The lawyers at Daniel Brown Law defend clients at the Durham Region Courthouse on impaired driving, assault, domestic assault, sexual offences, weapons charges, drug offences, fraud, and homicide.
Does having a lawyer at a bail hearing in Oshawa matter?
It often makes the difference between release and detention. Durham Region bail courts run consent variations daily, and a well-prepared release plan with sureties can resolve detention without a contested hearing.
What happens at a first appearance in Oshawa?
Nothing is decided at a first appearance. The court confirms you have counsel and sets the next date so disclosure can be reviewed. Your lawyer can appear on your behalf so you do not need to attend in person.
Oshawa court
Charged in Durham Region?
If you have a court date at the Durham Region Courthouse, or have been arrested by Durham Regional Police, speak to a lawyer before your first appearance.
Available 24/7 · Toll free 1-866-243-6161