Participating in Hearings Remotely
Main Campus
Civil and Criminal matters
Remote appearances are governed by Local Court Rule 7(b)(5).
(5) Remote Argument.
(A) Generally. The court may permit parties, witnesses, attorneys, and others to participate in hearings remotely, including by telephone, video, or other electronic means. When not already permitted generally, remote hearings may also be requested as a disability accommodation or due to other extenuating circumstances.
(B) Motion. If remote participation in a hearing is permitted generally, parties should not request a remote appearance. In other cases, a party who seeks to request a remote appearance shall file a timely motion. Such a motion may be brought by any party to assist a person with limited communications, such as an inmate. Motions for a remote appearance in civil cases must be presented on the assigned judge’s civil motion calendar. The motion to appear remotely must be noted for hearing at least one week before the matter for which a remote appearance is sought. The assigned judge will rule on the motion to appear remotely without oral argument.
(C) Procedure. If remote participation in a hearing is permitted generally, instructions for making a remote appearance shall be posted on the court’s website. In other cases where a party who has been granted a remote hearing may contact the assigned judge’s judicial assistant for instructions at least two business days before the remote hearing. A party who attends a hearing remotely has the same duties as parties who appear in person, including the duties to provide judges’ copies of pleadings and to provide a proposed order.
(D) Mandatory appearance of incarcerated parties. The court shall schedule hearings in which appearance of the parties is mandatory remotely for incarcerated parties without requiring a motion.
Family and Juvenile Court
Generally telephonic hearings are not available in Dependency matters for parties represented by an attorney, except as set forth below.
Telephonic participation for dependency related hearings by a party represented by an attorney are only allowed in relinquishment hearings and in hearings where agreed order(s) of dependency is proposed to be entered by the court and then only if:
a. The person lives over 120 miles from the court house; or
b. The party is incarcerated
(1) Persons other than incarcerated parties who request to appear by phone must be available for the entire calendar.
(2) The attorney shall provide the phone number to the clerk in the courtroom prior to the start of the calendar.
(3) The preferred method of calling is on a land line number. If a land line is not available the cellular phone must comply with the following:
A. there must be good reception during the entire call;
B. there must be no background noise during the call; and
C. there must be no ring-back tones.
Telephonic hearings for all persons in custody will typically be at 1:45 for the pm calendar. For matters scheduled in the morning, the requesting party must propose a time on the Motion. If the proposed time is the only availability, please provide all the information explaining why in the Declaration. The attorney must present the Motion, Declaration and Order Regarding Participation in Hearing by Person in Custody for the judicial officer’s signature no later than 3:00 pm the day before the applicable calendar. A copy of the Order will then be provided to Court Administration as soon as possible after signed.
Motion, Declaration and Order Authorizing Telephonic Participation in Hearing
ADA Information
If a person has a need that requires an accommodation please click here for ADA information.