Circuit Clerk's Office

VIRTUAL APPEARANCE COURTROOMS

You may request to appear remotely for your court appearance. Please send a request to schedule your remote appearance by calling our office or emailing [email protected] . You must contact our office at least one week before your scheduled court appearance.

Once approved and scheduled, please see the courtrooms listed below for the appropriate courtroom for your hearing. Once you’ve located the appropriate courtroom click on the link shown. If you are still unsure, please contact the Circuit Clerk's Office at 309-558-3538.

Keep in mind, there could be multiple cases set in Traffic Court at the same time as yours. You will be checked in and your case will be heard in the order you check in. MAKE SURE ZOOM HAS YOUR COMPLETE NAME LISTED. If you appear with an ID listed as iphone or something other than your name, you may not be admitted timely.

Additionally, you may sign up for text notifications and electronic copies of documentation from the Court. Submit this information by emailing [email protected]

Courtroom 301 - Traffic & Misdemeanor Division Cases

               Link:  https://zoom.us/courtroom301

               Meeting ID: 992 7542 3652

Courtroom 302 – Traffic & Misdemeanor Division Cases

                Link: https://zoom.us/courtroom302

                Meeting ID: 942 3930 8255

Payment Hearing Officer

                Link: https://zoom.us/paymenthearingofficer

                Meeting ID: 854 4454 0749

                Link:  https://zoom.us/thompson

                or Dial 312-626-6799 

                Meeting ID: 970 5862 2059 

REMOTE COURT APPEARANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the steps listed below to prepare for a remote appearance. Start this process BEFORE your scheduled hearing time to make sure you are connected when court begins:

1. If you already have a Zoom account, or the Zoom app on your cell phone, go directly to the link above to join the virtual courtroom. The virtual courtroom information is also listed on the first page of the Remote Appearance Handout you may have received or on a Notice of Remote Hearing sent to you.


2. If you do not have a Zoom account, you can download the free Zoom app to your cell phone by visiting the App Store and search for Zoom or go to www.zoom.us on a computer. Click the SIGN UP, ITS FREE button and follow the instructions to sign up for a few Zoom account.


3. Once Zoom opens, select the JOIN button on your cell phone, or the JOIN A MEETING link on your computer. Be sure the Zoom screen name being displayed is your legal name so you are recognized by the Court


4. A message box will appear asking for the Meeting ID. The Meeting ID and Password are listed above and the first page of the Remote Appearance Handout you may have received or on a Notice of Remote Hearing sent to you.


5. The program should now show your face & you must select JOIN WITH VIDEO. You may also need to select JOIN WITH COMPUTER AUDIO, or if you are using a cell phone select CALL USING INTERNET AUDIO.


6. Once the Court starts the “meeting” participants will initially be placed in a virtual “waiting room” pending admittance into the virtual “courtroom” by the Court.


7. Be sure your screen name being displayed in the “waiting room” is your legal name.


8. Once you are admitted to the “courtroom”, your audio will be muted until the Judge calls your case. When your case is called, your audio will be unmuted by the Court.

REMOTE COURT APPEARANCE TIPS

• You should take time prior to the call to become familiar with the Zoom program and test your device’s microphone and speaker controls.


• Dress appropriately, as if you were coming in person to the Courthouse.


• Make sure you are in a QUIET location.


• Make sure your background is court appropriate.