Rule 12. Use of Remote Technology for Court Proceedings.

Rule 12. Use of Remote Technology for Court Proceedings.

   12.1. All court proceedings will be conducted in person, unless otherwise approved or ordered by the Court. Court proceedings may be conducted using telephone, video, or other remote technology as follows:

   a. In its discretion, the Court may order that a proceeding not involving testimony of witnesses by oral examination be conducted by remote technology.

   b. By agreement of the parties and with the permission of the Court, any court proceeding may be conducted by the use of remote technology.

   c. If Emergency Modified Court Operations are in effect, the administrative orders of the Separate Juvenile Court for Douglas County shall govern the use of remote technology for court proceedings.

   12.2. Remote appearance of any party shall be arranged by counsel of the party or the self-represented litigant to include providing the Zoom link, or other details for remote access, to the party.

   12.3. To request an evidentiary hearing by remote technology, the initiating counsel or self-represented litigant shall contact all counsel of record and self-represented litigants for a stipulation to proceed by telephone, video, or other remote technology. If all parties are in agreement, initiating counsel shall file a motion requesting Court approval, and notice of hearing. All parties appearing by use of remote technology shall provide the court’s bailiff with contact information, email address, and telephone number three (3) judicial days prior to the hearing.

   a. All exhibits to be offered at the hearing by use of remote technology shall be provided to the court reporter no less than five (5) judicial days prior to the hearing. All exhibits submitted shall comply with Nebraska Revised Statutes and the Rules of the Supreme Court.

   b. Any hearing held by remote technology shall be conducted in conformance with the rules for courtroom decorum as set forth in the Rules of the Supreme Court and Rule 2 of these Rules.

   c. There shall be no driving, eating, or smoking; no animated backgrounds; no distortion of the parties, counsel, or the judge; and no other distracting behaviors during remote hearings. Attire must conform to Rule 2.10. Cameras must be turned on and focused on the person speaking unless otherwise permitted by the Court. Counsel shall advise their clients of the same.

   12.4. Recordings and screenshots of remote proceedings are prohibited.