Judge Sheldon R. Sobol

Applies to

Summons notice or court order setting court date

Summonses, notices, and court orders setting dates for hearings with a remote-appearance option must provide Zoom access information, dial-in information, and the courthouse address and courtroom number.

Applies to

Jury admonishment

At the commencement of a criminal or civil trial with an approved request for extended media coverage, the judge must give the jury the specified admonishment.

Applies to

Jury instruction

When news media is present during any portion of a criminal or civil trial, the judge must give the specified instruction to the jury.

A request for permission to appear remotely must be made through a written motion that is filed, scheduled, and served under Circuit Court Rules 2.1(a) and 2.1(c), unless a standing order or case-specific discretionary exception allows otherwise.

When filing a request for extended media coverage, the media requestor must simultaneously notify the court media liaison, counsel of record, and unrepresented parties.

Counsel or a self-represented party seeking to introduce a witness’s testimony must notify the witness of the request for or grant of extended media coverage.

Requests for extended media coverage must be filed with the circuit clerk as soon as practicable and at least 7 days before the proceeding, unless the court prescribes shorter notice or the proceeding was not scheduled at least 7 days in advance.

A party should file a written objection stating its reasons within 3 days after receiving notice, subject to any different schedule prescribed by the court; the court may also allow oral objections.

A witness may object in writing or orally before testifying and as soon as practicable.

The Clerk must place a file mark in the upper right-hand corner of the first page of each document presented.

Pleadings must reserve at least a 2-by-2-inch space in the upper right portion of the first page for the Clerk’s file mark.

Pleadings must not contain a backing sheet.