Virtual and In-Person Court Martial Courtroom – Technology and Administrative Requirements for Legal Officers and Civilian Counsel  

5203-3 (CMA)

31 May 2023.


Purpose

1. To ensure proper administration of justice and maximize best practices and efficiency in court martial proceedings and other judicial hearings, legal officers and civilian counsel are required to follow, as a minimum, the technology and administrative requirements described in this policy. This policy will assist court-clerk reporters to prepare and manage technological requirements related to judicial hearings, whether they take place in person, remotely or in a hybrid manner. 

DWAN computer workstation with DVPNI access and PKI card

2. The legal officer who participates in a court martial or other judicial hearing must have a Defence Wide Access Network (DWAN) computer workstation (laptop or tablet) with the capability to connect to the Defence Virtual Private Network Infrastructure (DVPNI) and using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) card to ensure that he or she is able to share most documents electronically.  If there is no access to DWAN in a courtroom where judicial proceedings are conducted, the legal officer will be able to connect via Wi-Fi if they are authorized (Note: There are exceptions in proximity of emission security (EMSEC) zones).

Polycom Real Presence Desktop Video Conferencing Software

3. To ensure flexibility and maximize efficiency during judicial hearings, legal officers must have the Polycom Real Presence Desktop Video Conferencing Software installed on their workstation, which will allow them to remotely connect to the court martial proceedings and other judicial hearings they are participating on via video link from home or office. The software Polycom allows connectivity to the Department of National Defence (DND) video conferencing system, to the Virtual Meeting Room (VMR) and to Webex, a civilian platform. Legal officers are required to promptly call the DND/CAF helpdesk to obtain access to the download software through DND/CAF Software Centre. There are no costs associated with the use of Polycom for anyone, either military or civilian, who is working in the DND/Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Civilian counsel   

4. Civilian counsel should have a workstation (laptop, tablet or smartphone) available that may connect to Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi connectivity is permitted for court martial proceedings or other judicial hearings, Wi-Fi connectivity will allow for document-sharing through e-mails. In addition, the civilian counsel workstation will allow him or her (if authorized) to appear remotely to judicial proceedings through a video link from home or law office, via Webex or other civilian platforms. Depending on the location of the judicial hearing and the tools that will be used to host the session, the court-clerk reporter will advise how civilian counsel may connect remotely or locally to the judicial hearing.

Microsoft Office 365 – Microsoft Teams

5. The DND/CAF has experienced Microsoft Office 365 which uses Microsoft Teams as a video communication platform. Many commands, bases and units have already used Microsoft Office 365, which will likely become the norm for users in DND/CAF.


Original signed by:


B. Noury, CD
Court Martial Administrator