With the recent pandemic of COVID many of us have been quarantined to work from our homes. However, Courts are still in session, just not all of them in person. Some courtrooms are having in person hearings for emergency, and specified cases. The remainder of the courts are using Zoom to conduct their hearings. We are still having hearings, only now they are from a distance.
What is Zoom?
Zoom is an app that allows video communication. It provides the courts a way to conduct hearings keeping everyone safe. Zoom permits multiple people to be on video at the same time. Zoom is a video meeting, with the judge controlling who can participate in the meeting—the judge is the administrator.
As the administrator the judge can determine who is allowed to the hearing, and how is not. The judge can separate parties into separate rooms so they can speak privately. The judge has the ability to mute participants until the judge wants to hear from them.
How Do I Get the Zoom App?
You can put Zoom on your smartphone. Go to your app store, search for Zoom and download it on your phone. The app should look like this.
You can also put Zoom on your computer or tablet. The download is free. (https://zoom.us/download)
Once you download the app, open it up and register.
How Do I Join a Hearing with the Zoom App on My Phone?
1. Open the app.
2. Click on Join a Meeting
3. Enter the Meeting ID (this will be provided to you by your attorney)
a. Make sure you have your name correct in the section below.
4. Click Join (Do not press “Don’t Connect to Audio” or “Turn Off My Video”)
5. If your meeting has a password enter the password. This will take you directly to the meeting.
6. When you arrive you may not see anything. Do not worry the judge will bring you into the meeting when he is ready.
How Do I Join a Hearing with the Zoom App with My Computer?
1. Type Zoom.com into the search bar.
2. In the upper right hand of the web page click on Join a Meeting.
3. Enter the meeting id.
4. Enter the meeting password.
How Do I Join a Hearing with Zoom on My Tablet?
You can join a Zoom meeting on your Tablet the same way as a computer by typing in zoom.com and following the computer instructions. You can also join the same way you would on your phone by clicking on the Zoom app and following the phone instructions.
Prepare for Your Zoom Hearing
Before you go to an actual hearing practice with your attorney or a friend using the Zoom app. Make sure the room you are in has good lighting. Make sure you know how to mute the microphone, turn the video on and off, and adjust the sound. By practicing before you will be prepared to listen to the hearing instead of trying to figure out to work the app.
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