A. All hearings shall be conducted in person, unless otherwise provided.

   B. All remote hearings are subject to the approval of the Court.

   C. All remote hearings will be on the record, except the parties may waive a verbatim record in non-evidentiary hearings. Remote hearings shall be consistent with the public’s access to the courts.

   D. Non-evidentiary Hearings.

   1. A party may request to schedule a remote hearing when no evidence will be offered by any party. To request a remote hearing, the movant shall:

   a. File a Motion for Remote Hearing with a Proposed Order;

   b. Certify within the motion that all parties consent to the remote hearing; and

   c. Certify within the motion that no parties will offer evidence.

   2. A party may request to appear by remote technology at non-evidentiary hearings that were not originally scheduled to be heard remotely. To request a remote appearance, the movant shall:

   a. File a Motion to Appear Remotely with a Proposed Order;

   b. File the motion at least 3 business days prior to the hearing;

   c. Certify within the motion that the movant will not offer evidence at the hearing; and

   d. Contact the appropriate clerk/bailiff for hearing arrangements at least 3 business days prior to the hearing.

   E. Evidentiary Hearings Not Involving Oral Testimony.

   1. The Court may, on its own motion, order proceedings not involving the testimony of witnesses by oral examination, to be held using remote technology consistent with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704(2) .

   2. The parties may request a remote evidentiary hearing that does not involve the testimony of witnesses by oral exa mination. The parties must contact the Court to discuss the reasonableness of conducting said hearing remotely.

   3. If allowed, the Court will issue orders governing procedures and requirements of the parties prior to, during, and after the hearing.

   4. Hard copies of the original exhibits and electronic copies of the exhibits must be provided to court reporting personnel at least 3 business days prior to the hearing or they will not be admitted.

   F. Evidentiary Hearings Involving Oral Testimony.

   1. Permission to conduct evidentiary hearings that involve oral testimony will only be granted under extraordinary circumstances.

   2. If allowed, the Court will issue orders governing procedures and requirements of the parties prior to, during, and after the hearing.

   G. The party requesting the remote hearing or appearance shall be responsible for making the arrangements for the remote hearing and shall provide for all expenses.

   H. Uniform District Court Rule 6-1511, “Attire,” or Uniform County Court Rule 6-1402,“Attendance and attire,” shall apply respectively to court proceedings conducted by remote technology.

   1. The above requirements may be waived for good cause.

Approved October 19, 2022.