7th Judicial Circuit Court, Greene County, Illinois Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

The party scheduling an eligible or court-approved remote hearing must obtain its time and date from the Court or the Court's assistant.

If a matter is presumed to be eligible for remote hearing or the parties have agreed to a remote hearing which has been approved by the Court, the party scheduling the matter shall obtain a time and date for the hearing from the Court or Court's assistant.

CRITICAL

A party seeking to use a platform other than Zoom must inform the Court and determine whether the Court accepts it.

If the party scheduling the matter desires a platform other than Zoom, the party shall inform the Court and determine whether the alternative platform is acceptable to the Court.

WARNING

Requests for extended media coverage must be routed through the media coordinator.

All requests for extended media coverage shall be made through the media coordinator.

WARNING

Counsel proposing to introduce a witness’s testimony must advise the witness of the right to object to extended media coverage.

All witnesses shall be advised by counsel proposing to introduce their testimony of their right to object to extended media coverage, and all objections by witnesses shall be filed prior to the commencement of the proceeding.

WARNING

If an opposing party has not appeared and/or the party providing Notice does not have an opposing party's e-mail address or telephone number, the Notice shall also inform the opposing party that the party may participate in the hearing personally at the designated time and place, and alternatively, that if the party prefers to participate in the hearing remotely, the party should inform the Clerk of the Court at least three (3) full business day before the hearing of the party's desire to participate remotely and provide the Clerk the party's e-mail address or, if none, a telephone number. The Clerk will then forward that information to the presiding judge.

If an opposing party has not appeared and/or the party providing Notice does not have an opposing party's e-mail address or telephone number, the Notice shall also inform the opposing party that the party may participate in the hearing personally at the designated time and place, and alternatively, that if the party prefers to participate in the hearing remotely, the party should inform the Clerk of the Court at least three (3) full business day before the hearing of the party's desire to participate remotely and provide the Clerk the party's e-mail address or, if none, a telephone number. The Clerk will then forward that information to the presiding judge.

WARNING

A party whose witness or participant needs an interpreter is responsible for coordinating with the 7th Circuit Court Administrator about obtaining and involving the interpreter.

Interpreter: If a party or a party's witness requires the use of an interpreter, that party shall be responsible for coordinating with the 7th Circuit Court Administrator how the interpreter will be obtained and involved in the hearing;

WARNING

If all parties agree to a remote hearing for a matter presumed ineligible, one party must contact the Court to ask whether it will hear the matter remotely.

Remote Hearings by Agreement. If a matter is presumed to be ineligible for remote hearing, but all parties have agreed to a remote hearing, one of the parties shall contact the Court to determine whether the Court will hear the matter remotely.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

A party requesting a telephonic appearance must provide the judge’s scheduling personnel with a valid, working phone number so the court can initiate the call.

Telephone Hearings. For counties utilizing telephonic hearings, the Court may initiate the telephone contact of the party requesting the remote telephonic appearance. It is the responsibility of the party requesting the telephonic appearance to provide the Judge's scheduling personnel a valid, working telephone number for the Court to initiate the call;

WARNING

Law enforcement officers should notify court security and local law enforcement before apprehending anyone at or near the courthouse.

Local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers should notify court security and local law enforcement before apprehending individuals at or near the courthouse.

WARNING

Counsel must not communicate ex parte with a court-appointed evaluator unless the court permits it.

Unless otherwise permitted by the court, neither counsel may engage in ex parte communications with a court-appointed evaluator.

INFO

Members of the public or media who want to observe a hearing should contact Court Administration for attendance directions.

Members of the public and/or media who desire to observe a hearing should contact Court Administration for directions on how to attend.