If you have scheduled (or are waiting for a hearing) and are willing and able to attend by phone or video, contact your court and let them know. Visit the Michigan One Court of Justice or Courts & Agencies website on Michigan Legal Help for contact information for the court you wish to visit. Sit and be vigilant at all times in the Zoom seat. Another big annoyance of judges is when the parties lie on the camera or zoom out of bed. Behave professionally as if you were present at the courthouse. If the court plans to hold a virtual hearing, it should inform all parties involved in a case and ensure that parties can participate remotely. If you do not have access to the phone or the Internet, inform the court as soon as possible. The court may be able to help you find a way to participate, or your hearing may be postponed until everyone can safely attend. Once you`ve created a Zoom account, you`ll need to activate your account. You will receive an email from Zoom (no-reply@zoom.us).

In this email, click Activate Account. After that, your account will be activated and ready to use. Treat the Zoom spot as often as possible as a personal dish. This means that you must dress professionally, as if you were attending courthouse court, even if you are present via the Internet. The judge can see you and expects you to take the procedure seriously. Check your local court`s website for dress code rules. Wear a shirt. It seems obvious, but one of the most common complaints from judges in the early months of the Zoom case is that parties register in court without a shirt. You wouldn`t enter the courthouse without a shirt — and you wouldn`t do it via Zoom either. For optimal audio quality, you should use headphones and a microphone. A pair of headphones with built-in microphone works well. Avoid walking or moving excessively during the meeting or hearing.

If you participate via phone or tablet, please keep the device still. Make sure you have a good internet connection to conduct your legal proceedings. Your mobile phone may not have a strong enough signal for audio and video to be transmitted. It is extremely important that you have a strong Wi-Fi signal and a reliable internet data connection. You may need to plan ahead to go to another location if you don`t have it available. If you are represented, your lawyer is responsible for providing all necessary evidence at your hearing. Most courts have established procedures for this purpose. It is unlikely that holding anything in front of the camera will be allowed as an exhibition. If you do not have a lawyer, read your court rules and make sure your evidence is prepared, reported, filed electronically and served on other parties in a timely manner if necessary.

Make sure you know how to share your screen if you want to showcase exhibitions via Screenshare. Practice this in advance. Each court treats hearings differently. The information here is general. Try to learn how your own court handles virtual hearings to make sure you are willing and able to attend. You can do this by visiting the court`s website or by calling ahead to ask questions about the process used for your hearing. Some courts install Wi-Fi hotspots that you can access from the parking lot, or you can participate safely from the courtroom if others are attending the hearing remotely. It`s important to familiarize yourself with Zoom before your virtual audience. You can join a test meeting at any time. During the test meeting, you can make sure that your speakers and microphone are working and that there are no problems with the internet connection.

You can also practice using the zoom features mentioned below. If you`re only attending a Zoom hearing over the phone, you can test your speech and tone at the test meeting. You should be able to test these features without creating an account. Make sure other people around you know that you shouldn`t be disturbed during this time. Don`t talk to people who aren`t in front of the camera. Do everything you can to set up an area for the zoom space that is private and distraction-free. If your car is the only quiet, private place where you can virtually participate in court, make sure you`re parked in a quiet spot with a strong data signal. Do not drive during your legal proceedings. Several jurisdictions have issued stern warnings against people attending Zoom court hearings while driving. Is the microphone on your laptop, tablet, or phone working well? Can people hear you clearly? How far away should you be from the microphone? Do you need a helmet? Can you hear what others are saying in a Zoom meeting? You don`t want to hear about audio issues for the first time when you connect with your Zoom audience. It is important that you test video and audio in court. You also need to understand the difference between muting your video (so you can`t be seen) and muting your audio (so you can`t be heard) and knowing when you should use each video.

Make sure you are in a quiet place with minimal background noise. Some people attend their Zoom hearings from their workplace to avoid taking time off work. If you have to, make sure you`re in a quiet room and that other people in your workplace know you can`t be disturbed during this time. Settle into your quiet spot before your Zoom trial begins. Don`t wait for the judge to talk to you to find a quiet place – it`s very frustrating for the judge and everyone else involved in your trial. One of the most important rules of Zoom Court is to mute when you`re not speaking. Don`t talk about people or interrupt people – it`s especially chaotic for court reporters trying to make a transcript of the hearing, and judges won`t tolerate that. Identify yourself clearly every time you speak.

The success of your case can be jeopardized if you don`t understand or follow your district`s rules for Zoom court cases. Make sure you`ve read your local rules and understand how to use your Zoom software, are fully prepared for your audience, and register early. While meetings and hearings can be held virtually, decency must be maintained. Participants should be in a quiet environment and minimize external distractions. Please wear appropriate clothing and preferably dress in a soft solid color. Pay attention to what`s behind you and, if possible, choose a solid neutral wall. The light from a window behind you could dazzle the camera. The light above you in the middle of a room can also cast shadows. Ideally, place a lamp or sit in front of a window where the light is directly on your face. Please note that your monitor will have a light that may make you appear blue. On the day of your hearing, you must attend the hearing via Zoom. To attend a session, click on the membership link or call the phone number sent to you by the court.

Before joining the meeting, you will be prompted to enter your name. Enter your full name and any other information the court has asked you to provide. Make sure you have enough battery for the whole process. Have a power cord handy and make sure you`re in a place where you can plug in a power outlet if needed. Keep in mind that your battery may not last as long if you use video and microphone and stream the amount of data needed for a trial via Zoom. You also can`t know how long you`ll have to wait and how many more cases will be called before yours. Always go to court prepared. The procedure is live. This means that everything you say during the hearing can be heard by anyone who observes the procedure.

Your hearing will be recorded. Everything that is said is recorded and is part of the record, as in a physical courtroom. You can also join a Zoom meeting by landline or mobile using only audio. Use the phone number in the instructions the court sent you. Once you have dialed the number, you will be asked for the meeting ID. Enter the meeting ID in the instructions you received from the court, followed by the “#” key. Court rules and standards tell judges how to conduct these hearings.