Chambers Policies Regarding Video and Telephone Conferencing in
Criminal Cases
U.S. Magistrate Judge John E. Martin has adopted the following policies for
his chambers and Courtroom in the Hammond Division of the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of Indiana:
(1) In criminal cases, all initial appearance hearings shall be conducted
by video-teleconference (VTC) with the consent of individual
defendants. Fed. R. Crim. P. 5(f).
(2) Likewise, arraignment hearings may be conducted by video-
teleconference with consent of individual defendants. Fed. R. Crim
P. 10(c).
(3) With respect to preliminary examination and detention hearings, the
parties are directed to confer and advise the Court if the defendant is
stipulating to the existence of probable cause and/or detention
(thereby waiving the need for an in-person hearing), or whether either
party is seeking a continuance of the hearing. A defendant who is
stipulating to the existence of probable cause or detention should,
before the date of the hearing, notify chambers either orally (through
counsel) or in writing that the defendant is agreeing to probable
cause, detention, or both, and is waiving the need for a hearing on
those matters.
(4) Where a defendant does not stipulate to detention, an in-person
hearing will be scheduled.
