Melissa Mane Vara

Bexar County publishes operating guidance for courtroom presentation equipment, including V Cart displays, BARCO wireless casting, ELMO document cameras, and audio or video playback.

Upgraded equipment is in all courtrooms in the Bexar County Courthouse including civil, criminal, probate, county, and district courts.

The guide recommends using the ELMO to publish pictures and the V Cart or courtroom CPU for video and audio playback, while warning counsel not to display work product or evidence not yet admitted.

Any videos or audio recordings play better on the V Cart/ CPU.

In civil district and county court proceedings, the court may permit or require electronic participation after appropriate notice; compelled electronic participation for oral-testimony proceedings requires good cause or party agreement, and a jury trial requires party agreement.

Upon appropriate notice by a party or the court, a court may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means, except as otherwise provided in (2).

Civil district and county trial courts may permit courtroom recording or broadcasting only under Supreme Court guidelines, with the required party and witness consent, or for ceremonial proceedings.

A trial court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of proceedings in the courtroom only in the following circumstances: