Zoom Court Information

Instructions for Accessing Video Court through Zoom

For Parties and Witnesses
Sign up: USE YOUR REAL NAME – USE YOUR EFILE EMAIL ADDRESS
Parties and witnesses must sign up for a free account from Zoom Web Conferencing.

• From a computer – https://zoom.us/
• Android – play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=en_US
• Apple – apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307

Initially, the Court will send each party a link/meeting ID & password for the Video Court Hearings once the case is identified as ready for hearing.

• The Court will soon transition to providing the link/meeting ID & password to the party who is requesting the hearing, and that party will be required to provide notice to the opposing side.
• Both parties must be logged on into video court on time.
• You are required to review the rules of video court while in the waiting room.
• Parties are responsible for notifying their witnesses of the link/meeting ID & password.
• Parties are responsible for providing a copy of these Instructions to their witnesses and for otherwise making sure that their witnesses are aware of all requirements for witnesses in video court.

Be prepared:

• Parties and witnesses must have enough battery for the entire hearing, with a charger readily
  available.
• Parties and witnesses must have enough data and/or Wi-Fi.
• Parties and witnesses must be in a quiet area with minimal background noise.
• Parties and witnesses must be dressed appropriately – as if you were in the actual courtroom.
• Recording of video court hearings is strictly prohibited.

Exhibits:

• All exhibits shall be e-filed as “proposed orders” or submitted to the Court’s Dropbox at least 48
  hours prior to the anticipated hearing. Only rebuttal or impeachment exhibits will be allowed the
  day of the hearing and instructions will be provided at the time of presentation. Check with your
  local court for specific instructions.

Witnesses:

The names and email addresses of all witnesses must be provided to the Court prior to the hearing
date.

• Witness names and email addresses can be emailed to the Court or to the Clerk.
• If a party plans on calling witnesses, each witness must have their own account and be ready to join the virtual courtroom when it is time for that witness to testify.
• Witnesses must join the virtual courtroom hearing on time but may remain in the “waiting room” until it is their turn to testify.
• Once a witness is done testifying, that witness will leave the virtual courtroom and should not talk to anyone about the testimony until after the conclusion of the hearing

NOTICE TO VIRTUAL COURTROOM PARTICIPANTS
You will be admitted shortly to our virtual courtroom.

If you have not already done so, please set your Zoom profile name to your actual name so that we may identify parties and other participants. If here to observe only, you may change your name to “Public”.

Please note the following:
1. These court proceedings may be on the record, with a Court Reporter present. All conversations can be heard by all other parties present and may become a part of the official record. The public is also able to view these proceedings by requesting the virtual courtroom meeting ID and password and being admitted by the host into the virtual courtroom hearing.
2. Remember that this is a formal proceeding. You should treat it as if you were present in the physical courtroom.
3. There may be multiple participants in this virtual courtroom proceeding. If you are not speaking, please mute yourself so that we do not pick up background noise or unwanted audio feedback. Please take a moment to locate the mute button on your screen. Clicking the microphone will enable you to mute and unmute. If you are unable to unmute yourself, please use the “raise a hand” feature to get the attention of the host.
4. When you want to speak, unmute yourself, if able, and identify yourself. Identify yourself each time we change who is speaking; otherwise, the Court Reporter may have a difficult time determining who is speaking. If you have an objection, state the objection, followed by your name or other identifying title. Wait until questions are completed before announcing an objection. The Court Reporter may interrupt from time to time to clarify who is speaking.
5. When you speak, please make sure that you speak slowly and clearly. Please do not speak over one another or interrupt one another.
6. The Court will admit any excluded witnesses into the virtual courtroom from the Waiting Room one at a time. Do not communicate with the witness through any format during the proceeding. Witnesses may not hold any notes or paperwork in their hands while they are testifying.
7. Verbal responses are essential in order for the Court Reporter to take down what the speaker said.
8. Video or audio recording of this proceeding by any party through any device or format is strictly prohibited. Use of the Chat feature, except
between party and attorney when the party is not on the witness stand or except as otherwise specifically authorized by the Judge, is also strictly prohibited.
Failure to comply with this admonishment may result in the imposition of sanctions or in a finding of contempt.