Kathryn Hoefer Vratil

Judge-specific source

Contact Jeff Hokanson, courtroom deputy, at 913-735-2207 with any questions. The courtroom is equipped with an advanced AV system that includes monitors for presentation of evidence at the bench, witness stand, counsel tables and jury box, an integrated document camera (ELMO) and HDMI ports at counsel tables to allow for the use of laptop computers…

In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.

For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.

Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.

Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.