Like many courts around the nation, the Covid-19 pandemic transformed the way the Hawaii State Judiciary operates.

Remote hearings have been a key part of the pandemic response, with state courts holding more than 380,000 of them from August 2020 through January 2022.

Remote hearings have increased accessibility and convenience for many court users by eliminating transportation costs, reducing the need for time off work and/or child care, and making it easier for the public to observe proceedings online.

If you have a remote court hearing, the following suggestions are not legal advice, but can help you prepare, ease your anxiety, and prevent common mistakes:

Before The Hearing

• For cases on Oahu, court staff mail a “Notice of Remote Hearing” the week before your court date. Read the instructions carefully.
• If you need an interpreter or other accommodation, contact the court in advance.
• Do a practice run by phone or videoconference with a trusted family member or friend to ensure the listener can understand what you are saying when you speak, and you have gathered any documents you might need, adjusted your electronic device settings, know how to mute and unmute your device, and have organized your thoughts. Many smartphones have video calling features. Many videoconferencing platforms (e.g., Zoom) have free plans.
• If possible, observe other court proceedings to familiarize yourself with the virtual courtroom. For a list of Zoom meeting numbers, search remote hearings.

Logging In

• Charge your device before the hearing. Keep it plugged in, if possible.
• Find a quiet place. Background noise may prevent the judge from hearing and understanding you.
• Silence devices with ring tones and alerts. They may interfere with your presentation.
• Sign in with your full legal name, otherwise court staff may see a telephone number or device nickname (e.g., “iPhone”) in the waiting room and won’t know you are ready for your case to be called.
• Keep the hearing notice, login information, and courthouse telephone number nearby, in case you get disconnected.
• Never appear for your hearing while driving.

During The Hearing

• Dress appropriately for court from head to toe.
• There may be many other cases scheduled for the same time slot. Wait for your case to be called. Don’t interrupt other court proceedings.
• When your case is called, unmute your device before speaking.
• Keep any documents you need nearby so you can find them quickly.
• Have a notepad or device available for note taking.
• At the end of your hearing, wait for the judge or court staff to excuse you before logging off.

General Tips

• Be aware that judges must remain impartial and cannot help either side — even if one party has an attorney and the other does not.
• Be respectful to all court staff, attorneys, and parties.

Troubleshooting

• If you experience technical difficulties, stay calm.
• If the judge says “You’re on mute,” tap the Zoom microphone icon to unmute. When participating by phone, press *6 to unmute.
• If you are running out of data or battery, inform the court by sending a message using Zoom’s “chat” feature.
• If you missed your hearing due to technical difficulties, contact the court immediately.

Remote hearings have made our justice system more transparent by giving the public an easier way to observe and understand what courts do. By following the simple suggestions above, you can make the best use of the conveniences offered by appearing virtually.

For more information, search remote hearings.

By the way, National Judicial Outreach Week occurs annually in the first week of March, when judges engage with their communities to discuss the rule of law and the work courts do every day.