Hey, I need some advice. I’m in a bit of a situation here. So, I’ve got a court date on November 11th in Texas for a child support issue, and the judge is ordering that I show up in person, even though Zoom hearings were fine before. The problem is, I’m based in Florida, and I work as a USCGA responder dealing with back-to-back hurricanes in Tampa. Flying in would be risky for me and could even cause harm. Plus, I suspect the judge might have a personal relationship with the other party (she’s suing me for holistic medicine bills for my son). It feels like a set-up, and I’m worried about both safety and unnecessary travel costs. Anyone know if there’s federal law that says I don’t have to show up in person if Zoom is available? Also, if Zoom isn’t allowed, can I avoid the travel costs? Any help is much appreciated!
Wow, that sounds like a mess. I don’t have a specific law for you, but in my experience, judges usually have the final say on whether you can appear remotely. I think you’d need a solid reason for the judge to allow it, like health issues or work obligations.
@Finch
Yeah, that’s what I thought too. The judge seems to know the other side personally, so I’m really trying to figure out how to handle this… IDK, it feels off.
@Finch
If you’ve got a lawyer, they could help you petition the court for Zoom. You’ll need to show them how it impacts your safety or job. Otherwise, they might insist on the in-person appearance.
I’ve dealt with this before, and while I can’t speak to your exact situation, I think if you file a motion stating why flying is unsafe for you, you might be able to get the Zoom option approved. Judges do consider these things, but you’d need to make a strong case.
@Quincy
Yeah, I already motioned for Skype. My lawyer said the main reason is because I’m worried about the petitioner’s group harming me, lol. It sounds crazy, but I feel like it’s a real risk.
@Quincy
I totally get that, honestly. If you think there’s a risk, you need to make sure the judge knows that. It could be a reason to approve your motion.
Just to clarify, you’re concerned that the judge might have some bias and you’re worried about injury from the other party’s group? I think that’s definitely something your lawyer should emphasize in the motion.
@Oaklee
Yeah, exactly. It feels like a total set-up, especially with the judge being friendly with the other party. It’s a small town, so everyone knows each other.
@Oaklee
Oh, I see now. That makes it even more important to push for Zoom. If it’s about safety, the court might be more likely to approve it.
I think it might also help if you mention the travel costs. A lot of times, courts don’t want to burden people with unnecessary expenses, especially if Zoom can do the job.
Mai said:
I think it might also help if you mention the travel costs. A lot of times, courts don’t want to burden people with unnecessary expenses, especially if Zoom can do the job.
Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that too. I really don’t want to deal with all the extra costs when I can just do Zoom like before.
It might also be worth checking into any federal laws that address travel costs for hearings, especially if it’s deemed unreasonable for you to attend in person due to your situation. You could bring this up to your lawyer.
@Zeph
Thanks, Ken! I’ll ask my lawyer about that. Hopefully, they can find something that helps me out.