Michelle M. Schafer

Courtwide

Permission And Standing Orders

Remote attendance is permitted under an applicable county or judge standing order; without one, a written motion for permission is required.

Case participants shall be permitted to attend court by appearing remotely pursuant to any Standing Order of the County, or Standing Order of the judge presiding over that matter. If there is no applicable Standing Order, you must ask the judge presiding over the case for permission to appear remotely, in a written motion.

Rules of the First Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois ↗

Courtwide

Video Courtroom Conduct

Remote participants must follow the First Circuit's published video-court conduct requirements.

You should remain muted until your case is called or you are asked to unmute. If you are appearing by video, you should leave your video on unless you are directed otherwise. No unsuitable filters or backgrounds permitted.

Rules of the First Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois ↗

Courtwide

Remote Proceedings

Recording, photographing, screenshotting, or otherwise capturing a remote court date is prohibited.

You may not record or take any pictures or screen shots, or otherwise capture an image or recording of a remote court date.

Rules of the First Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois ↗

Statewide

Recording And Broadcasting

Photography, broadcasting, and recording in an Illinois courtroom are permitted only under Supreme Court authority or Rule 44's stated exceptions; participants may not record a remote proceeding unless the court directs it or extended-media coverage is approved.

the taking of photographs in the courtroom during sessions of the court or recesses between proceedings and the broadcasting or televising of court proceedings are permitted only to the extent authorized by order of the Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom ↗

Statewide

Official Record

The official record may be taken stenographically or through a Supreme Court-approved electronic recording system, including approved videoconferencing services.

The record of court proceedings may be taken by stenographic means or by an electronic recording system, including video conferencing services, approved by the Supreme Court.

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings ↗

Statewide

Remote Appearances

Circuit court participants may appear remotely without advance approval in covered proceedings; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, and bench or jury trials require the presiding judge's approval, subject to the rule's case-specific safeguards.

Case participants shall be permitted to attend court via the circuit court's available remote appearance technology without any advance approval, except for the following proceeding types, which shall require the approval of the judge presiding over the matter

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45, Remote Appearances in Circuit Court Proceedings ↗

Statewide

Remote Appearance Policy

Illinois circuit courts must implement Rule 45 through published local procedures and accessible remote technology; Rule 45 and controlling case orders determine whether approval is required.

Supreme Court Rule 45 authorizes and fosters the use of remote appearances in circuit courts with a goal of achieving uniformity in remote appearance practices throughout the state.

Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Remote Court Appearances ↗

Statewide

Extended Media Coverage

Illinois circuit courts accept extended-media requests for public proceedings, normally at least seven days in advance, but the presiding judge may deny, limit, or terminate coverage and protected proceedings remain restricted.

all Illinois judicial circuit courts shall allow requests for extended media coverage of public court proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this policy

Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of Illinois ↗