Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Judge Gonzalez Rogers holds case management conferences by Zoom by default and presumes other proceedings are in person; a videoconference request requires a compelling showing of good cause.

The default rule is that all Case Management Conferences are held via Zoom videoconference and all other proceedings are presumed to be in-person. ... Requests to appear by videoconference may be entertained upon a compelling showing of good cause.

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.

For audio-visual demonstratives such as PowerPoint, Judge Gonzalez Rogers requires delivery to opposing parties and the Court at least 24 hours before the hearing, printed copies at the hearing, and equipment testing with the courtroom deputy at least one day ahead.

If a party intends to use audio-visual demonstratives during a hearing (e.g., PowerPoint presentation), it shall provide a copy to opposing parties and the Court no fewer than 24 hours in advance ... bring printed copies ... contact the Courtroom Deputy ... to test that equipment on a date at least one day in advance of the hearing.

The Northern District of California publishes guidance advising counsel to fully test their equipment and schedule a courtroom visit to test it before the proceeding.

The court highly recommends that counsel be familiar their equipment and fully test prior to using anything in the courtroom. ... schedule a visit in the courtroom to test everything before the proceeding.

For e-evidence requiring specialized software, the Northern District of California publishes a process for at least two business days' advance notice through the Courtroom Deputy and approval by the judge and Court IT.

at least two (2) business days advance notice, counsel may request via the Courtroom Deputy that the specialized software be loaded by counsel prior to use of the system. If the judge and the court’s IT Department approve...

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.