The world is a different place since the virus hit. Gone are concerts and going to bars and many facets of our daily life. The virus has drastically affected the court system with the majority of hearings being held online in one format or another. If you are required to be at a hearing, you may get an invitation to attend on-line, complete with date and time and login instructions.

Even though the hearing is on line, you should follow some common sense guidelines.

Arrive on time – Just like attending a court hearing in person, there are specific calendar appointments and tightly scheduled cases. This means it’s imperative that you arrive on time so that no one is held back and everything runs smoothly. Be prepared to log on at least five to ten minutes before your scheduled time to make sure you have no connection issues.

Dress appropriately – You may be in the comfort of your own home, but that doesn’t mean you can skip getting dressed and looking presentable. How you present yourself says a lot in a courtroom, and the judge will call you out if you aren’t dressed appropriately.

Mute your microphone, but remain on camera – Similar to a regular hearing, there are several cases scheduled for the same time slot and the judge will call each one upon their turn. While you are waiting to be called, it’s important to keep your microphone on mute as to not disturb the other listeners. The bailiff and judge’s assistant are taking attendance notes. Making sure your name is correctly displayed and you are available on camera allows for this to be an easier process.

Be prepared to answer questions – Even though the setting is different, the process is still the same. When the judge calls for your case, be ready with all necessary materials and paperwork needed to answer the questions that the judge may have for you pertaining to your case. If you have retained an attorney, they will also be present via computer from their location and can handle answering on your behalf.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.