As social distancing continues to be recommended to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Michigan courts are turning to video- and audio-conferencing options using Zoom software to allow litigants to remotely conduct their court business. The Michigan Supreme Court offers each seated circuit, district, and probate judge a Zoom Enterprise license at no additional charge to the local court. The license provides each judge with his or her own Zoom virtual courtroom. The Michigan Judicial Institute (MJI) and Judicial Information Services (JIS) have put together many resources to help courts quickly learn about using Zoom videoconferencing to conduct court business and to ease that transition.
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| Virtual courtroom backgrounds are available on the Virtual Courtroom Resource Center page. |
Virtual Courtrooms
The Virtual Courtroom Resource Center is your first stop to find answers to your Zoom questions. Here you can find links to training resources from Zoom, recorded webinars about Michigan courts using Zoom organized by MJI and JIS, and many specific topics covered in depth.
If you cannot find the answer to your Zoom question, e-mail virtualcourtsupport@courts.mi.gov.
Internal Communications Using Zoom
Suzanne Hollyer, Oakland County Friend of the Court Director, says she is “happy that we have the tools to provide services during this historic event.” Her office is also using Zoom to stay in touch with staff as many continue remote work. They have daily supervisor’ meetings, and supervisors meet regularly with their respective departments. Suzanne stresses that during this time, “Miscommunication is common and misunderstandings even more so. With everyone communicating mostly by e-mail, it is so easy to unintentionally hurt a co-worker’s feelings or to just misunderstand the message.”
Describing the structure of Oakland’s staff meetings, Suzanne says, “Some days at our supervisor’s meeting, everyone is fine and it’s a quick 10-minute check in. Other days, we solve quite a few problems that have come up in the prior 24 hours.”
“I’ve found Zoom to be the most helpful,” Suzanne says, “because we can see each other, chat as a group or in a sidebar discussion with one another and record the meeting when we are discussing something complicated. On the other hand, my county also uses Skype. Skype for Business is a standard application on all of our computers. I can easily determine if a coworker is available or in a meeting . . . and quickly dial-up a conversation.”
Electronic resources like Zoom have transformed communication options for court business during a time when we are working physically apart.
As editor of The Pundit newsletter, Amy encourages readers to contact her with feedback, article ideas, and article submissions at any time.
