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

CRITICAL

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

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.

CRITICAL

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.

CRITICAL

For an eligible or court-approved remote hearing, the scheduling party must obtain the hearing date and time from the Court or 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

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.

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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

A party requesting a telephonic appearance must provide the judge’s scheduling personnel with a valid, working telephone number, and the Court may use it to initiate the call.

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;

CRITICAL

A party whose witness or party needs an interpreter must coordinate 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

Observers must not discuss testimony or evidence with witnesses or potential witnesses until the evidence has closed.

Observers are prohibited from speaking to witnesses or potential witnesses concerning any testimony or evidence until after the evidence has closed.

WARNING

If requested and technologically feasible, attorneys and clients may communicate privately during a hearing, but a person may not use private chat while testifying.

If requested by a party and if technologically feasible, the Court will allow breakout meetings, private chats, or other private communication between attorneys and clients during the hearing; provided, however, that during the testimony of any person, that person may not communicate by private chat with any other person;

INFO

The witness objection form requests the Clerk’s assistance in providing copies to the listed recipients.

I hereby ask the Clerk of the Circuit Clerk for assistance in providing copies of this objection to the Chief Judge of the Seventh Circuit, the Presiding Judge, Trial Court Administrator, all counsel of record, parties appearing without counsel and the media coordinator.

INFO

Members of the public and 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.

INFO

The Clerk will forward the remote-participation request and contact information to the presiding judge.

The Clerk will then forward that information to the presiding judge.