An Oakland pilot program lets clients, attorneys, expert witnesses use phones and video to reduce travel expenses reports Detroit News.
Attorneys with cases in Oakland County Circuit Court will be able to argue motions by telephone and eventually have witnesses and experts testify on camera from remote locations as part of a pilot program intended to save money. The court is offering the new service to attorneys and the public under the Judge On-Line program.
The program is expected to save time and money for clients and their attorneys by reducing travel to and from the courthouse and eliminating costs for out-of-state witnesses and experts which often run into the thousands. Oakland Circuit Judge Steven Andrews, who is leading the test program along with six other circuit judges, said the first phase allows telephonic conferences for motions, pretrials, scheduling and status conference and other proceedings for a simple fee of $30.
