Washington Civil Jury Trials Via Zoom: Perspectives from the Bench

Authors

Marisa Pasnick, University of Washington School of Law

Abstract

Many professions have felt the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including the legal field. At the onset of COVID-19, many courthouses closed and trials halted, but as the pandemic continued, the need to resume judicial proceedings led courts to turn to virtual platforms to conduct civil jury trials. This Comment examines the response of judges in Washington State to the use of Zoom for conducting civil jury trials. Interviews with judges across Washington reveal a stark contrast in opinions among judges in different districts as well as within districts. This Comment answers the question of how judges feel about Zoom trials and illuminates the need for a uniform approach to virtual trials in the future.

First Page

685

Recommended Citation

Marisa Pasnick, Comment, Washington Civil Jury Trials Via Zoom: Perspectives from the Bench, 99 Wash. L. Rev. 685 (2024).
Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/wlr/vol99/iss2/10