Legal analysis: After the people's court determines the date of the court session, it shall notify the people's procuratorate of the time and place of the court session, summon the parties, and notify the defenders, agents ad litem, witnesses, expert witnesses and translators. Summons and notices should be served at least three days before the court session. There is no summons in criminal cases, but the people's court needs to serve the indictment on the defendant three days before the court session. In criminal cases, the defendant needs to appear in court in person before the people's court makes a judgment.
Legal basis: According to Article 195 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC), the public prosecutor and the defender shall present the material evidence to the court for the identification of the parties concerned. As evidence, the transcripts of witness testimony, expert opinions, inspection transcripts and other documents that are not present in court shall be read out in court. A judge shall listen to the opinions of the public prosecutor, parties, defenders and agents ad litem.