Remote court appearances.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Judiciary
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill extends the ability for parties and witnesses to participate in court proceedings remotely, including hearings, trials, and conferences, until January 31, 2029. It also allows non-party witnesses to appear remotely. The bill is driven by concerns about federal immigration enforcement operations impacting California residents and seeks to ensure equitable access to the justice system. It builds upon existing remote appearance provisions established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key provisions
- Extends remote appearance provisions to January 31, 2029.
- Allows non-party witnesses to appear remotely.
- Specifies conditions under which a court may require in-person appearances (e.g., technology limitations, audio quality issues).
- Authorizes expert witnesses to appear remotely without good cause.
- Requires courts to ensure all parties can fully participate, regardless of appearance method.
- Establishes a process for alerting judicial officers to technology issues during remote proceedings.
- Includes provisions for juvenile dependency proceedings and adoption finalization hearings.
- Requires the Judicial Council to create rules for implementing the bill statewide.
Who is affected
- Parties in civil and criminal cases
- Witnesses in civil and criminal cases
- California residents
- Court personnel (e.g., court reporters, interpreters)
Bill text
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Sponsors
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1 on record
Primary sponsor
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