A procedural rule amendment to make it easier to get remote non-evidentiary hearings lasting up to 30 minutes and also to set standards for remote evidentiary hearings has been endorsed by the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee.

The amendment to Rule of Judicial Administration 2.530 was in the works before the COVID-19 pandemic hit but took on a special urgency since last March when most non-criminal in-person court proceedings were halted.

Sandy Solomon, who chaired the subcommittee that prepared the final draft, said there are three parts to the amendments: one addressing non-evidentiary hearings; one addressing evidentiary hearings; and one addressing the swearing of witnesses. The rule also deals with the definition of audio and audio/video communications.