Tips For Zooming Into Court
In order to carry on its operations despite the global pandemic, courts around the county have allowed—and even encouraged—remote appearances. Here in Los Angeles, counsel, parties, and witnesses can appear telephonically or via video to all hearings – even trials and settlement conferences. After nearly a year of making remote appearances, the following are some tips I can share from my experience:
Read the Instructions – It may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure that you read the instructions in advance. Some systems require you to dial-in and then input conference IDs or pin numbers. Some systems require you to click on a video link that will open in your web browser, while others will require you to download software (like Zoom or Webex) in advance.
Have Back Up Contact Information Ready in Advance – If your connection fails, you’ll want to have the tech support phone number or the department/courtroom phone number easily accessible. If there is a problem, you can get help right away and you can let the court know you’re having technical difficulties, rather than scrambling to find who to call and trying to solve the issue all at once.
Have All of Your Accessories Ready – If you’ll be using a speakerphone, webcam, headset, or headphones, make sure that they are charged up, have batteries, and are pre-connected well in advance of your hearing. Also make sure that you have back up accessories available (for example, headphones that you plugin instead of using wireless/Bluetooth headphone), in case your main set fails for any reason.
Call in Early – Give yourself an extra 10 or 15 minutes prior to your call-in time to get connected, so that you do not feel rushed or end up scrambling.
Be Patient – Be prepared to sit and wait, sometimes on silent hold and sometimes with terrible elevator music, for a long time. So long as the call doesn’t drop, you’re probably still connected. Remember, if you were sitting in court, you would likely be in the hallway or in the courtroom, waiting for your case to be called for just as long. At the very least, you can read a book, catch up on emails, or browse the internet while you wait for your turn remotely.
Don’t Leave Your Phone/Computer – Do not walk away from your phone or computer while you wait to be called for too long, or else you might miss your case being called. The Judge may carry on without you, or you may get pushed back to “second call,” after the Judge has addressed all other cases on the calendar that day.
Don’t Talk Over Others – While it can be tricky over the phone, try to be patient and not speak until it’s your turn. The Judge cannot hear multiple people speaking at the same time, and the court reporter cannot take down a clear record if everyone is talking over each other. Also, state your name when you begin to speak (i.e., “This is John Smith…”), so that it is clear that you, as opposed to another party or attorney, are the one talking.
For video appearances, there are other considerations too --
Test Your Connections in Advance – When using video connection software, you’ll want to test your video, audio input, and audio output connections and compatibility with your hardware and accessories well in advance, so that they run smoothly when you make your appearance.
Dress Appropriately – Even though you are home, you should dress as though you are in Court. Suit up if you’re a lawyer, and at least wear business attire if you’re a litigant or witness. However, if no one can see your feet on camera, slippers might be ok!
Prepare Your Background – Make sure there’s nothing inappropriate or distracting in the background of your video. Simple is best, like a blank wall or bookshelf. Also, make sure that you haven’t left any inappropriate virtual backgrounds or filters up from prior video calls, like this attorney who appeared as a cat.
Lighting – Try to sit in a well-lit space, where the light hits your face, and not the back of your head. If you’re going to be doing many video appearances, consider investing in a ring light or other key lighting.
Be Alone – To the best of your ability, depending on your circumstances, make sure that no one else is in the room with you when you appear remotely. And also make sure that your phone is on silent, the TV or radio/podcasts in the background are off, and that windows are closed if you are near a noisy area.
Mute Yourself – When you are not speaking, mute yourself to limit background noise and feedback. Also, be aware of when you are not muted, as you may be sending your private conversation directly into the courtroom on speakerphone.
If you do go in person….
If you do attend your hearing in person, be aware of masking and social distance rules in place in your courthouse and courtroom. Be prepared to sit at a distance from your attorney. Make sure your mask is secure, and covers your nose and mouth. I have personally witnessed Judges stopping hearings to tell litigants and counsel to make sure that their face is fully covered by their mask, which can distract from the argument. Lastly, be especially respectful of court staff, maintaining appropriate distance from them, and following all of their directions. They have had to work in-person throughout the pandemic, and deserve our respect and consideration.