Important: Any recording of a court proceeding held by video or teleconference, including screen shots, or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions deemed necessary by the Court.

The Court will not provide technical support for Cisco Webex Meetings for attendees. Please reference Cisco’s website using one of the links below for how-to instructions for joining Cisco Webex Meetings or contact your local IT support team. 

How to join a Webex meeting

How to join a Webex meeting (video)

Cisco Webex Account and Software

• Participants and attendees are not required to have a Cisco Webex account or pay for a premium Cisco Webex account.  Any person may join as a guest.
• If you do elect to open an account with Cisco Webex, save your full and proper name, phone number, and email address.
• When you join the meeting from a computer, whether as a guest or through a paid account, Cisco Webex automatically downloads the latest version of the app to your device.  Please ensure you have the correct permissions on your computer to allow for the download and installation.
• Click the link below if you have never joined a Webex videoconference meeting before.
  Joining a Webex meeting for the first time
• If you are joining a Webex teleconference meeting, you will just call in and enter the Meeting ID/Access Code when prompted.  No other steps are necessary.

Equipment, Settings, and Etiquette

• If you join a meeting as a guest, you are still required to display your full and proper name.  The Courtroom Deputy can assist you with this after joining. 
• A computer, tablet, or smartphone can be used to join a videoconference. 
  
  • Computer:  Please ensure you have a camera and microphone, and a separate phone or headset to be used for audio, if necessary.
  • Tablet or smartphone:  You must download the Cisco Webex Meetings app to join.

Please note, if your audio is not clear and intelligible by the Court during your appearance you may be asked to change your audio source (use a telephone) or put on a headset.  Poor audio quality may result in being asked to leave and rejoin the call or being expelled from the meeting. 

• • If you experience feedback or echo when joining please use a phone for audio, and not your computer. 
  • If possible, do not join the meeting from a noisy area.  Noise canceling headsets are helpful to reduce background noise.  Please note sometimes a fan or other type of “white noise” will interfere with microphones.  All these scenarios will benefit from using a telephone or headset for audio. 
  • If you are expected to interact with the Judge or the Courtroom Deputy, please familiarize yourself with muting and unmuting, as well as turning video on and off. 
• Please reference the following links on how to manage your call after joining. 

Manage Audio and Video

Creating a virtual background

Recommendations/Best Practice while Appearing Remotely

1. Unless you’ve confirmed the quality and clarity are acceptable, avoid using an open microphone and speakers (such as are built-into laptops, or a webcam microphone). Using a quality headset (headphones with mic) will often help ensure you can hear and be heard with maximum clarity.
   Please be advised that you are required to check your audio each time prior to appearing in front of your judge. Poor audio quality may result in being asked to leave and rejoin the call or being expelled from the meeting. 
2. Avoid noisy and echoing locations. Use of a headset will improve audio quality when this is unavoidable.
3. Avoid placing anything near your microphone. They are sensitive and pick up the slightest movements.
4. Always keep yourself muted. If you’re expected to be heard by the judge, be prepared to take yourself off mute quickly.
5. Avoid distracting real or virtual backgrounds. Once your video is turned on and your camera is placed do not move it. It is disorienting and distracting to all who can see you if the camera is moving while your video is enabled.
6. Check the lighting. Light from a window behind you might blind the camera, making you look dark. Light above you in the center of a room might also cast shadows. Ideally, position a lamp or sit facing a window, where light is directly on your face.
7. Remember to look directly at the webcam, not at the screen.
8. Avoid using battery power only and keep your device plugged into a good power source while in the meeting.
9. Avoid using Wi-Fi if possible. Connection via a hardwired Ethernet cable will always be faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi.

Before Every Court Session Using Cisco Webex

• Connect your device(s) to power and ensure you have an Internet connection.
  
  • You may click this link to test your Internet connectivity speed:  How to test your home Internet speed  
• Run Cisco’s CScan diagnostic test to determine whether your network can support a Cisco Webex Meeting call. Cisco's CScan Diagnostic Test
  
  • Select location as US.
  • Click on Pick server.
  • Select Advanced Diagnostic Test, click Start Test.

You see a prompt that Cisco will be accessing your camera and microphone. Click “Continue to Advanced Test”.  You may be prompted again to allow Cisco to access your microphone and camera, click “Allow”.