Attending Court in Durham County NC
What to wear?
Dress respectfully as if you are going on an interview. Long pants or dress, as well as dress shirt/blouse, are recommended. Sometimes the courtrooms may be cold. You may want to bring a light jacket or sweater. Men will be required to have their shirts tucked in if they stand before the judge.
What to bring?
Currently, masks are required in the individual courtrooms. You are not required to wear one in the galleries and hallways.
Bring something with you to read such as a magazine or book. It is our objective to get you out of court as quickly as possible. However, depending on the court docket, as quickly as possible may require a wait of several hours, depending on the circumstances of your case. A book or magazine will help pass the time.
Bring any documents that we may have advised you to bring. If we have not mentioned anything to you regarding documents, you need not worry. We will have what we need for that court appearance.
Cell phones are currently permitted in Durham County court rooms. Judges may change this allowance at any time for any reason. Ensure that all ringers, vibrations, buzzers and alarms are turned off before going into the courtroom. Any disturbance created by your phone can expose you to possible contempt of court. Do not hold your phone in an elevated position. Unauthorized recording or photography in the courtrooms is not permitted and may expose you to contempt charges.
What not to bring?
Do not bring food or drink into the courtrooms. The following items are also not allowed in the Durham County Courthouse: aerosol spray cans, pocket knives, brass knuckles, mace, and any other item that may be considered a weapon or explosive.
What to expect?
Your court date may be vastly different depending on what courtroom you are in and with what you have been charged. The Criminal Defense Team of Hatch, Little, & Bunn can walk you through what to expect on your court date step by step. Not knowing what to expect on your court date can create anxiety and fear. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help assuage those fears by explaining to you ahead of time what to expect and how to be best prepared for your court date.
Be confident that you have a full team of defense attorneys assisting you on your court date. Let the Criminal Defense Team of Hatch, Little & Bunn take away your anxiety and fear by explaining to you ahead of time exactly what to expect on your court date.
Where to go?
The Address: Criminal matters are held in the Durham County Courthouse located at 510 S. Dillard Street in Durham, NC. There is only one entrance to the building. The entrance at is the front of the building on S. Dillard Street. Being that there is only one entrance, getting through security often gets delayed, so be sure to arrive to your court session early.
Parking: There is minimal street parking around the Durham County Courthouse. However, there is an hourly parking garage that can be accessed from S. Dillard Street. The 2nd level of the parking deck has a pedestrian bridge for direct access to the front of Durham County Courthouse.
The Courtroom. You may check your courtroom or contact our office and we’ll let you know where to be.
Contact our skilled North Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers for a free initial consultation
The Criminal Defense Team of Hatch, Little & Bunn. LLP defends clients throughout North Carolina against felony, misdemeanor and traffic charges. Please call 919-714-4306 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation at our Raleigh office.
