The Oakland County Circuit Court recognizes the impact the pandemic has had on the public’s ability to access the services provided by the court. In an effort to minimize the adverse impact, the court’s bench and staff are providing many opportunities to increase the public’s access to justice.
One of those opportunities is an effort to try and replicate the in-person experience, as much as possible, and the access that an individual would have if they were able to physically enter the courthouse. Chief Judge Shalina D. Kumar felt it was important for the court to broaden its availability as much as possible while still following the guidance from the Center for Disease Control, Oakland County Health Department, and Michigan State Court Administrative Office.
Having used ZOOM hearings very effectively for court proceedings, the court began using video conferencing for a number of other tasks and determined that the technology could be used to increase access to the Case Management Office, which is a central hub for communication within the court.
The Oakland County Circuit Court now has a “virtual counter” where the public can contact the Case Management Office using a ZOOM conference room to speak directly with staff regarding their questions. This technology will enable the public to interact with court staff on a more personal level and to get answers to their questions without the need to travel to the courthouse.
There have been some silver linings to the pandemic and the court’s ability to embrace technology and improve the court experience is one of the positive aspects. The court will continue to develop new procedures and technologies to strengthen its ability to serve the public in the future.
The virtual counter is available by video or phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Instructions to access the virtual counter are provided below and are also available on the court’s website:
• https://zoom.us/j/2488580350
Select ‘Join’ using the Zoom app or website (zoom.us) Meeting ID: 248 858 0350
or
• Phone (no video): 646-876-9923 Meeting ID: 248 858 0350#
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