Criminal Justice Reform Projects
Vancouver's Downtown Community Court
Courtroom
The Downtown Community Court's two courtrooms differ from traditional courtrooms. The counsel tables in community court face one another at an angle, which opens proceedings to view from the public gallery. The dock where an accused person in custody would stand during proceedings in a traditional court also serves as a holding cell in community court. However, most accused persons appearing in community court sit with their lawyer at the defence counsel table during proceedings. Also, unlike traditional courtrooms, the judge’s bench in community court is lower so the judge and the accused are at eye level with one another.
