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6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
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AT TACOMA
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VANESSA CAMPER, CASE NO. 3:20-CV-05283-TLF
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ORDER FOR REMOTE / VIRTUAL
10 CIVIL JURY SELECTION
Plaintiff,
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v.
12 STATE FARM FIRE AND
CASUALTY COMPANY,
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Defendant.
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15 The Court ORDERS that jury selection for the jury trial scheduled to commence on
16 August 10, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., be conducted using the following virtual courtroom
17 procedures and protocols.
18 A. Remote / Virtual Jury Selection Format
19 1. The entire jury selection will take place using the ZoomGov.com platform. The
20 parties, counsel, jurors, and court staff will not be physically present in the
21 courtroom. The Court will call a jury pool of 25 jurors. Each party will have
22 one round of 15 minutes to examine the jurors. Any questions the parties
23 would like the Court to ask should be submitted to the Court by 4:30 PM on
24 August 5, 2021.
25 2. The public will have telephonic access via a number published on the Court’s
26 trial calendar.
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1 B. Preparation
2 1. Counsel shall familiarize themselves with the ZoomGov.com platform by
3 reviewing the tutorials located at
4 https://www.wawd.uscourts.gov/attorneys/remotehearings.
5 2. Counsel shall ensure that they have the hardware, software, data bandwidth,
6 and Internet access required to participate remotely. The minimum system
7 requirements are posted at
8 https://www.wawd.uscourts.gov/attorneys/remotehearings.
9 3. Counsel shall also ensure that they have one or more alternative means of
10 communicating with their clients, as well as with the Court, outside the
11 ZoomGov.com platform (e.g., via cellular phone or email).
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C. Recording
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14 1. No part of the trial may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form
15 or by any means, in whole or in part, by any participant in the jury selection or
16 any public observer. This prohibition includes any audio or video recording,
17 photographs, and/or screenshots. The parties and counsel shall ensure that
18 each trial participant for which they are responsible acknowledges and agrees
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to this prohibition.
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21 D. Participants
22 1. Counsel shall provide, via email to the Court’s Trial Coordinator Traci
23 Whiteley, Courtroom Deputy, at
[email protected], the
24 following information for each party, attorney, paralegal, legal assistant, trial
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or technical consultant, who will connect remotely during jury selection:
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(Case No. 20-5283)
1 • Name
2 • Email address
3 • Phone number
4 • Participant status (e.g., party, attorney, paralegal, etc.)
5 Prior to jury selection, the Court’s Trial Coordinator will supply to counsel the
6 links for the ZoomGov.com sessions. Counsel shall forward the links to other
7 participants, as appropriate.
8 2. After using the link to access the ZoomGov.com session, participants will
9 enter a virtual waiting room. They will be admitted from the virtual waiting
10 room into the virtual courtroom when appropriate. .
11 3. During the virtual jury selection hearing, each party and all jurors will be
12 visible on video with microphones muted.
13 4. All participants who are not actively being questioned, asking questions, or
14 otherwise directly involved in the jury selection process shall use the
15 ZoomGov.com platform controls to mute their microphone and deactivate
16 their video camera. The Court’s Trial Coordinator, who will “host” the
17 ZoomGov.com sessions, will mute any participant who fails to follow this
18 protocol.
19 5. Participants using multiple devices in a single workspace to access the trial
20 should avoid audio feedback issues by using the microphone and speakers
21 on only one device at a time, or by using headphones.
22 6. To the extent possible, remote jury selection participants should conduct
23 themselves in the same way they would if they were physically present in a
24 courtroom. They should avoid interrupting someone who is speaking, except
25 as necessary to raise an objection. Virtual jury selection participants should
26 silence electronic devices other than the devices necessary to their remote
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1 participation, shut down any unnecessary computer programs or applications,
2 and take steps to remove or minimize anything in their remote workspace that
3 might distract from the proceedings. The Court understands that conducting
4 jury selection virtually, from one’s home, for example, presents many
5 challenges. The Court asks all remote participants to do their best to maintain
6 professionalism in order to conduct a fair and efficient jury selection.
7 7. Objections: Counsel should raise their hand to signal an objection. When
8 an objection is made, attorneys and jurors shall stop talking until the Court
9 rules on the objection. If the objection requires a discussion outside the
10 presence of the jury, the jurors will be placed in the virtual jury room.
11 8. Disconnection: In the event that the Court, a party, an attorney of record, a
12 juror, or anyone else necessary to the proceedings becomes disconnected
13 from the remote jury selection, the proceedings will stop while the connection
14 is reestablished. If the participant has difficulty reconnecting, he or she should
15 email Traci Whiteley, Courtroom Deputy, at
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[email protected].
17 9. Appropriate Dress: All participants shall dress in the same manner as they
18 would if they were present in-person in a courtroom.
19 10. Screen Names: Remote participants should endeavor to use a screen name
20 in the ZoomGov.com platform that indicates their actual first and last names.
21 As “host,” the Court’s Trial Coordinator will rename any participant whose
22 screen name is incomplete, confusing, unprofessional, or otherwise improper.
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1 IT IS SO ORDERED.
2 The Clerk is directed to send copies of this Order to all counsel of record.
3 DATED this 16th day of July, 2021.
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A
5 Theresa L. Fricke
United States Magistrate Judge
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