If a defendant has no attorney, which option is a valid method of notifying them about a pre-trial hearing?

• A. By Mail Addressed To The Defendant At The Address Shown On The Bond
• B. By Email
• C. By Personal Service On The Defendant
• D. By Posting On The Courthouse Door

Answer: (D)

Notice to a defendant must be reasonably calculated to give them actual knowledge of the hearing. When there’s no attorney and you can’t reach the defendant by ordinary means, posting notice on the courthouse door is a recognized way to satisfy that notice requirement. This method provides constructive notice by publicly displaying the information where the defendant is likely to see it and by documenting that the court took steps to inform them. It’s used as a fallback when other methods—like mailing to a known address, emailing, or attempting personal service—are impractical or impossible, ensuring the defendant still has a fair chance to participate in the proceedings.