To watch a virtual court hearing, go to the court’s official website, open the court calendar or docket for the day of the hearing, and either click the public access link posted next to the case or follow the instructions for requesting one from the clerk. Most courts hold these proceedings on Zoom, WebEx, or Microsoft Teams, and the access details are usually posted alongside the day’s schedule. One important catch: federal criminal hearings are generally not available remotely, so if that’s the kind of case you’re trying to watch, plan to go to the courthouse in person.
Finding the Hearing and Getting the Link
Start on the website of the specific court handling the case. Federal district courts, state trial courts, appellate courts, and local courts all post their own calendars. Look for a section labeled “Remote Access,” “Public Hearings,” or “Virtual Proceedings.” These pages typically list cases scheduled for the day along with access information for each one.
Some courts post a direct link to the hearing right on the calendar. Others require you to email or call the clerk’s office to request access, often within 24 hours of the scheduled time. You’ll receive a meeting link and sometimes a password. For federal civil or bankruptcy proceedings, the court’s website will explain how to listen or view remotely.1United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings
Federal appellate courts handle remote access independently by circuit. Some livestream oral arguments on their websites or YouTube channels; others post instructions on the specific court of appeals site.1United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings State courts vary more widely still. Some have online portals where you submit a request to observe a specific case, while others simply post public Zoom links next to the daily calendar.
Federal Criminal Hearings Are Generally Off-Limits Remotely
This is where people most often get stuck. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53 prohibits broadcasting judicial proceedings from the courtroom, and courts read that to cover live audio and video feeds of criminal hearings.2Cornell Law School | LII / Legal Information Institute. Rule 53 Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited A temporary pandemic exception that let judges authorize remote public access to criminal proceedings ended on September 21, 2023.3United States Courts. History of Cameras, Broadcasting, and Remote Public Access in Courts
The Judicial Conference revised its policy effective September 22, 2023 to expand remote public access, but only for civil and bankruptcy cases. A judge in one of those cases may now allow live remote audio access to non-trial proceedings where no witness is testifying.4United States Courts. Judicial Conference Revises Policy to Expand Remote Audio Access Over Its Pre-COVID Policy Criminal proceedings were deliberately left out. For a federal criminal hearing, you will almost certainly need to go to the courthouse.
State courts are not bound by Rule 53 and set their own policies. Many kept broader remote access in place after the pandemic, including for some criminal matters. Check the particular court’s website for its current rules.
What You Need to Connect
The technical bar is low. You need a device with internet access, a browser or the videoconferencing app the court uses, and a reasonably stable connection. For a smooth video feed, aim for at least 1.5 Mbps download speed, though audio-only access works on much less. Download Zoom, WebEx, or Teams before the hearing so you aren’t installing software while the session starts.
Headphones help. They reduce echo and make it easier to follow proceedings where several people speak. If your connection drops, rejoin using the same link; courts expect occasional glitches. Some court websites list a technology help number if you can’t get in.
How to Behave During the Hearing
Joining a virtual hearing as a member of the public means following the same standards as sitting in the gallery. Most courts will automatically mute you and disable your camera when you join. Leave those settings alone. You are there to watch, not participate, and you should not speak unless the judge directly addresses you.
Avoid anything that would be disruptive in a physical courtroom: eating, moving around, side conversations. Some courts ask observers to use a neutral or blurred background and to display their real name. If your conduct disrupts the proceeding, the court can remove you from the session immediately.
Do Not Record or Rebroadcast
Recording, photographing, screenshotting, or rebroadcasting a virtual hearing in any form is prohibited. In federal courts, the prohibition flows from Rule 53’s ban on broadcasting judicial proceedings.2Cornell Law School | LII / Legal Information Institute. Rule 53 Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited State courts impose similar restrictions under their own rules. No screen recordings, no phone snapshots of the feed, no streaming the audio.
Violating this rule can land you in contempt. Under federal law, summary contempt carries a penalty of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail.5United States Department of Justice Archives. Criminal Contempt When contempt is pursued through a formal hearing rather than summarily, the potential punishment is unlimited. The judge can also remove you from the session and bar you from future access.
If You May Be a Witness, You May Not Be Allowed to Watch
Federal Rule of Evidence 615 requires courts to exclude witnesses from the courtroom so they cannot hear other witnesses testify. A 2023 amendment made clear the rule applies to virtual trials too.6Cornell Law School / Legal Information Institute (LII). Rule 615 Excluding Witnesses If you are a potential witness, the court may bar you from watching remotely and may also prohibit others from relaying testimony to you. This is one reason some courts require observers to identify themselves before granting access.
Hearings You Cannot Watch
Not every proceeding is open. Certain categories are routinely closed:
- Juvenile proceedings. Federal law requires that juvenile delinquency proceedings stay confidential. Under 18 U.S.C. ยง 5038, records must be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure, and the juvenile’s name and picture cannot be made public. Federal juvenile hearings typically happen in a closed courtroom or in chambers with no public access. Most states take a similar approach, though some allow limited access to certain juvenile hearings.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 5038 – Use of Juvenile Records8United States Department of Justice. 9-8.000 – Principles of Federal Juvenile Prosecution
- Family law and adoption cases. Divorce, child custody, and adoption hearings are frequently closed to protect the privacy of the families and children involved.
- Sealed cases. A judge can order any otherwise-public hearing closed when an overriding interest justifies it, such as protecting a victim’s identity, shielding trade secrets, or addressing national security. The closure must be narrowly tailored to that interest.
If your request to observe is denied, the court should tell you why. Common reasons: the case is sealed, it involves a minor, or the hearing is being held in person rather than virtually.
Accommodations for Disability and Language
Courts must provide effective communication for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. For virtual hearings, that can include closed captioning, video sign language interpreters, and other accommodations.9U.S. Department of Justice ADA.gov. Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments Contact the clerk’s office as far in advance as possible. Most courts have a designated ADA coordinator who handles these requests.
Courts also have obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to assist people with limited English proficiency. If you need an interpreter, reach out to the clerk’s office before the hearing date. Availability and process vary significantly from court to court, so give yourself lead time to request the service and confirm it has been arranged.
If You Missed the Hearing
You can request a transcript. In federal courts, transcripts are prepared by the official court reporter. Contact the clerk’s office for the court where the case was heard to find out which reporter handled it and how to order a copy.
Federal transcripts go through a 90-day restriction period after filing. During that window, the transcript can only be viewed on public terminals at the courthouse or purchased directly from the court reporter. After 90 days, it becomes available for download through PACER, the federal judiciary’s online records system. PACER charges per-page fees for transcripts, and unlike other documents, those charges are not capped at 30 pages.10United States Courts. Privacy Policy for Electronic Case Files
Transcripts made available electronically must have certain personal information redacted, including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth, names of minor children, and home addresses in criminal cases.10United States Courts. Privacy Policy for Electronic Case Files State courts have their own transcript ordering processes and fee schedules, so check with the specific court clerk.