Judicial officers could preside by video under MSC proposal

We’re fairly certain it won’t look like this.

Judicial officers could hold court via video conferencing equipment under a proposed Michigan Supreme Court administrative order.

The proposal would allow judicial officers, under certain circumstances, to preside from a remote location without the parties’ consent.

Remote participation by judicial officers shall be limited to the following specific situations:

1) judicial assignments;

2) circuits and districts that are comprised of more than one county and would require a judicial officer to travel to a different courthouse within the circuit or district;

3) district court districts that have multiple court locations in which a judicial officer would have to travel to a different courthouse within the district;

4) a multiple district plan in which a district court magistrate would have to travel to a different district.

The judicial officer who presides remotely must be physically present in a courthouse located within his or her judicial circuit, district, or multiple district area.

Under the proposed administrative order, multicounty circuit and district courts seeking permission to have judicial officers preside via video equipment must submit a proposed local court rule for the State Court Administrator’s approval. The State Court Administrative Office will monitor video equipment use and let the MSC know how things are working out.

The MSC is seeking comments about the proposal through Nov. 1. Refer to the proposal for more information about submitting comments.