The Future of Courtrooms: Embrace Zoom for Efficiency and Accessibility

In today’s fast-paced world, commuting to courtrooms for limited hearings or traffic cases is becoming increasingly impractical. It’s time to fully embrace the technology that we know works—Zoom. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that much of the court’s business can be conducted remotely. Now, we need to take this lesson and expand its application.

Court appearances for matters like small claims and traffic citations often require litigants to travel long distances, navigate congested city streets, find parking, and waste an entire day for what might amount to a 10-minute appearance. This is not only inefficient but costly for both the individual and the system as a whole. Why are we still adhering to these outdated, resource-draining practices when technology offers a better solution?

Today, we have the capability to hold entire trials via Zoom, involving prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants, and judges. While defendants retain the constitutional right to face their accusers, this would only be necessary in a small minority of cases. For routine traffic citations, where the police officer is often the only government witness, remote hearings make perfect sense.

The benefits of Zoom hearings are clear. First, they would reduce traffic congestion, taking numerous cars off the streets and saving energy. Second, the pressure on court security would be reduced with fewer people entering courthouse buildings, making them safer and more manageable. Finally, many courthouses are located near expensive parking facilities, further burdening individuals who are already fighting fines or legal disputes. Moving these appearances online would cut down on those extra, often predatory, costs.

Beyond convenience, using Zoom enhances government efficiency. It cuts down on unnecessary delays, makes the legal process more accessible, and saves both time and taxpayer money. For minor legal issues that need not require in-person appearances, it’s the smart, modern solution.

The legal system should be adaptive, not stuck in the past. Embracing Zoom for court proceedings is not just practical—it’s the future of good government.