Texas Chief Justice argues for continued online courtwork for lower level cases

[lfromnj]

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/03/23/texas-chief-justice-nathan-hecht-calls-more-online-court-action/6964177002/

What do you think?

[SteveRogers]

Makes perfect sense to keep virtual court attendance around as an option for everything short of a jury trial.

[The Mikado]

There's a lot of stuff in law that really doesn't NEED to be in person meetings. Obviously trials should and will be in person, but things like a deposition? Why does everyone need to be in the same room?

[brucejoel99]

There's a lot of stuff in law that really doesn't NEED to be in person meetings. Obviously trials should and will be in person, but things like a deposition? Why does everyone need to be in the same room?

Yeah, you captured my sentiments exactly: witness hearings, jury trials, & other important appearances should be kept in-person (& in-person appearances by people who don't have access to a computer &/or the Internet should obviously be permitted), but the more run-of-the-mill appearances that can occur remotely & thus keep long lines from forming outside of courthouses, the better it is for everybody.

[Dereich]

Zoom depositions are much much more convenient outside depositions of children. Most of us are hoping that they will continue once this passes. Criminal trials will still be in person by necessity; at least here the courts have found Zoom trials to run afoul of the Confrontation Clause. Evidentiary hearings too; there are absolutely body language and mannerisms that can be seen in person from a witness that cannot be virtually. We're already dealing with a few appeals of dispositive evidentiary motions due to them taking place virtually. There is something to be said for in-person calendar calls though; seeing someone sentenced in person is certainly more impactful and makes defendants more realistically consider their options.