When the pandemic halted court proceedings in Elkhart County, Indiana, officials needed to get in front of what could soon turn into a backlog across its nine courtrooms. With the traditional justice system built around in-person hearings, courts needed a way to safely hear cases while keeping everyone distanced.
Judge Michael A. Cristofeno, with Elkhart County Circuit Court in Indiana, proceeds over a remote court hearing.Cisco partnered with Network Solutions to help Elkhart County Circuit Court transition from in-person hearings, where up to 300 people may have been in the room previously, to a socially safe environment where only the judge, bailiff, and court reporter are onsite. Attorneys, the defendant, and witnesses join via Cisco Webex over a secure, wireless network.