HB14 Alabama 2012 1st Special Session

Under existing law, a court may conduct certain pretrial proceedings in criminal cases by means of audio-video telecommunications, but there is no law specifically authorizing pretrial matters in civil cases to be conducted in this manner

This bill would authorize the presiding judge of the circuit court to authorize motion hearings in civil matters to be conducted by telephone or other audio-video telecommunications means

This bill would also provide that the presiding judge would establish written guidelines for the holding of the hearings

To authorize the presiding circuit judge of each judicial circuit to create guidelines providing for certain pretrial proceedings in civil or probate cases to be conducted by telephone conferencing or other audio-video telecommunications means.