In a recent development, the Judicial Council instituted a new regulation that sets parameters on the instances a judge can appear remotely during civil proceedings, a practice which notably increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Rule 10.635 under the California Rules of Court, any judicial officer presiding over a matter remotely is now required to receive prior approval from the superior court’s presiding judge.
This can only be granted if the presiding judge considers the remote appearance to be in the interest of justice. The rule, which was ordered by the California Legislature, is a response to several changes in the way legal proceedings were conducted as a result of the pandemic, where remote appearances often transmuted into a requirement.
The full extent of the application of this rule still remains to be understood. For a more detailed examination, please follow this link.