Overview
Most Superior Court hearings are open to the public. In some cases, such as confidential family and juvenile cases, hearings are closed to the public.
You can attend a hearing in person at the courthouse, online using the court's video conferencing platform (WebEx), or by phone. Criminal jury trials and jury selection can only be viewed in person at the courthouse.
Audio and video recording, taking pictures of remote hearings, and sharing the live or recorded remote hearing by rebroadcasting, live-streaming, or otherwise are not allowed.
Superior Court hearings can be in person, remote, hybrid, or virtual off-site.
- In-Person Hearing – The judge and all court participants will appear in person inside the courtroom.
- Remote Hearing – The judge will conduct the hearing from the courtroom. The court participants may appear by video or telephone outside of the courtroom. If the court participant appears in person in the courtroom the judge may proceed with the hybrid hearing or the court participant can use the onsite remote hearing room.
- Hybrid Hearing – The judge will conduct the hearing from the courtroom. The court participants may appear virtually via video or telephone outside of the courtroom or in person in the courtroom.
- Virtual Offsite Hearing – The judge will conduct the hearing virtually and the court participants will appear virtually via video or telephone. If the court participant appears in person for the virtual offsite hearing, they can use the onsite remote hearing room.
Check your hearing notice to find the time, location, and type of hearing.
There are several ways you can find where, when and how a hearing is happening:
- Look up the case online (not all case types are publicly available online). Search cases online
- Look up cases scheduled for a hearing today or an upcoming hearing on the court's online calendar. Search case calendars
- If you are a party (someone involved in the case), view your hearing notice or look it up online in eFiling (if you are using electronic filing and service)
If you can't find the hearing you're looking for, call the clerk's office in the division where the case is pending. View Superior Court Divisions
In-Person Hearings
Most hearings are held in the Moultrie Courthouse. Some hearings are held in Court Building A or Court Building B. For those courtrooms, a letter indicating the building will be listed before the courtroom number. For example:
- A-46 is Building A, courtroom 46
- B-53 is Building B, courtroom 53
Remote Hearings
Remote hearings are held virtually on the courts’ video platform, WebEx.
- Find the WebEx link for a remote hearing
- View instructions for joining a hearing on WebEx
- Find a remote hearing site
If you appear in person for a remote hearing, you can participate at the courthouse.
A division with Virtual Courtroom listed as the courtroom is operating remotely only.
Hearings that are closed to the public do not list a WebEx link.
The court uses WebEx as its online platform for remote hearings. You can join a remote hearing by computer, tablet or phone.
To join by computer, tablet or smartphone:
- Click on the link for the remote courtroom, or copy and paste it into your web browser
- Enter your name
- Click the green Join Meeting button
To call in by phone (only if you cannot appear by video):
- Call (202) 860-2110 (local) or (844) 992-4726 (toll free)
- Enter the WebEx Meeting ID for that hearing on your phone's keypad
Find the WebEx link for a remote hearing:
Need Help?
If you experience technical issues when trying to join:
- Call the Help Desk at (202) 879-1928, option 2
- Log off and try to log back on
- Call the clerk’s office for the division handling your case. View Superior Court Divisions
The court offers remote access sites where you can join your hearing using court-provided computers, internet, and staff support.
You must reserve a remote access site at least 2 business days before your hearing. If you do not reserve ahead of time, a computer may not be available.
To reserve your spot:
- Call (202) 879-1900 or
- Email: DCCourtsRemoteSites [at] dcsc.gov
Change How You Attend Your Hearing
This information explains changing how you attend your court hearing (in person or remote). Note that the process differs based on the division where your case is pending. Check your court division’s page for more details or the tip sheets and information sheets on this page.
- To request to appear remotely for an in-person hearing, file a motion with the clerk’s office as soon as possible. Serve the other party by following the motions rules.
- Once received, the motion will be sent to the case judge for review. Until the Judge rules on your motion, you must appear as required by the court notice.
- To request to appear in-person for a remote hearing, file a written notice with the court 7 calendar days before the hearing and serve the notice to the other party.
To request to appear remotely for an in-person hearing and to appear in person for a remote hearing, file a motion subject to the motion rules.
- To request to appear remotely for an in-person hearing, file a motion subject to the motion rules.
- A court participant appearing in person for a remote hearing will participate in the hearing at a remote hearing location in the courthouse.
- If you require an in-person trial for a presumptively remote trial, file a written motion or make an oral motion on the day of the trial.
- Request to appear remotely for an in-person hearing by filing a motion subject to the motion rules.
- File a written notice to the court 7 days before the hearing.
- To request to appear remotely for an in-person hearing and to appear in-person for a presumptively remote hearing, file a motion subject to the motion rules.
- To request to appear remotely for an in-person hearing and to appear in-person for a presumptively remote hearing, file a motion subject to the motion rules.
To request to appear remotely for a presumptively in-person hearing and to appear in-person for a presumptively remote hearing, file a motion subject to the motion rules.
File the motion at least 10 calendar days before the hearing.
- To request to appear remotely for a presumptively in-person hearing and to appear in-person for a presumptively remote hearing, file a motion subject to the motion rules.ion.
- File the motion at least 10 calendar days before the hearing.
Forms
You can use these forms to change how you attend your hearing. Note that the forms differ based on the division where your case is pending.
Remote Hearing Resources
| Title | Download PDF | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Case Remote Hearing Participant Tip Sheet | English | Spanish | Amharic |
| Criminal Case Remote Hearing Participant Tip Sheet | English | Spanish | Amharic |
| Domestic Violence Case Remote Hearing Participant Tip Sheet | English | Spanish | Amharic |
| Family Case Remote Hearing Participant Tip Sheet | English | Spanish | Amharic |
| Landlord & Tenant Case Remote Hearing Participant Tip Sheet | English | Spanish | Amharic |
| Probate Case Remote Hearing Participant Tip Sheet | English | Spanish | Amharic |
| Tax Case Remote Hearing Participant Tip Sheet | English | Spanish | Amharic |