Zoom Meetings - Alaska Court System

Zoom Court Hearings

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQs to Prepare for a Zoom Hearing

FAQs about technology

What equipment, browser, and bandwidth do I need to participate in a Zoom hearing or Meeting?
How do I participate with a PC or Mac?
How do I participate with an Android Phone?
How do I participate with an iPhone or iPad?

Resources

► FAQs to Prepare for a Zoom Hearing

How do I know if I have a remote hearing?

The court will notify you and the other side by mail, email, or phone if your hearing is by Zoom.

How will I get the Zoom log in information?

The court will send you the Zoom log in information before the hearing, usually by email.

What if it’s time for my hearing and I can’t log in?

Contact the court as soon as possible to ask for help. Find your court contact information.

What if I don’t have internet or a video camera ?

You can join the hearing by calling from a phone. The Zoom log in information will have a phone number, meeting ID, and passcode you can use when you call.

When should I join the Zoom hearing and what should I do?

Log in early to work out any tech problems.
Use “Gallery View” so you can see everyone in the hearing. On a phone, swipe to see different views. On a computer, select:
Wait for the judge to start the hearing. The judge will explain what will happen in the hearing.

How can I sound good on Zoom?

Choose a quiet place to sit during the Zoom hearing. Background noise can make it hard for others to hear you. Use earbuds or headphones with a built-in microphone if you can. This can help you hear better and reduce background noise.
Pause before speaking in case there is any audio/video lag.
Mute yourself when not speaking.
Say your name each time you speak, especially if you are on the phone and not on video.
Talk slowly and do not interrupt other people.

How can I look good on Zoom?

You may be connecting from home, but it is still a court hearing. Pay attention, and follow all rules. Wear the kind of clothes you would wear if you were going to court.
Sit upright at a table, unless there is a medical reason or disability that makes this impossible.
Set the camera at your eye level. If using your phone as a camera, prop it up so you can look at it without holding it and turn it sideways.
Look at the camera, not the screen, when you speak.
Try not to use distracting real or virtual backgrounds. Choose a plain background if possible.
Sit in a well-lit room with no bright light directly behind you. If looks best if you can have light shining on the front of your face.

What should I do with my phone or computer to prepare for the hearing?

Charge your computer, phone, or tablet. Try to be plugged in during the hearing so your battery does not die.
Avoid running any unnecessary applications besides Zoom. This conserves your computer’s processing power and internet connection.
If you are calling in, make sure your phone has enough minutes.
If you are joining through the Zoom app without Wi-Fi, it will use data, so make sure you have enough.
If you think you will not be able to finish the hearing on your device, make sure to tell the judge and have another way to participate in the hearing.

► FAQs about technology

► What equipment, browser, and bandwidth do I need to participate in a Zoom hearing or Meeting?

PC, Laptop, Phone, or Tablet.
An internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE).
- Make sure you have a good internet connection. There are many free sites available such as speedtest.net to test your bandwidth. You need:
  - For high-quality video: 1.0 Mbps/600kbps (up/down)
  - For 720p HD video: 2.6Mbps/1.8Mbps (up/down)
  - For 1080p HD video: 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down)
- If you do not have enough bandwidth, you can call into the hearing using the phone number sent with the Zoom log in information.
Speakers and a microphone – built-in, USB plug-in, or wireless Bluetooth (most phones have speakers and a microphone built in)
A webcam or HD webcam - built-in or USB plug-in (most phones have a webcam built in)
Zoom supported operating system, tablet or mobile device
- Surface PRO 2 or higher running Win 8.1 or higher
- iOS and Android devices
- Blackberry devices

► How do I participate with a PC or Mac?

Download and Install Zoom

Using the Zoom app gives you access to more Zoom features. If you do not install the app, you can join on a browser like Chrome, but you may be limited in what you can do.

Open a web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox).
Go to https://zoom.us/download.
Click Download (most computers are 64-bit).
Once the file downloads, open it and follow the instructions to install Zoom.

Open and Sign In or Sign Up

Open Zoom by clicking the Zoom icon on your desktop (Windows) or in your Applications folder (Mac).
If you already have a Zoom account, click Sign In.
If you do not have a Zoom account:
1. If you do not want a Zoom account, you can join the meeting. Click Join a Meeting.
2. If you want a Zoom account, click Sign Up. Follow the steps.
Join and Participate in the Hearing
1. If you signed into Zoom, click the Join box on the main Zoom screen. If you did not sign in, make sure to click Join a Meeting.
2. Enter the Meeting ID. This will be on the notice the court sent.
3. Click Open Zoom Meeting
4. Make sure you type in your full name or change your user name to your full name so the judge knows who you are.
5. Click Join Meeting.
6. Enter the password. This will be on the notice the court sent.
7. When you join, Zoom will ask if you want to connect audio. Click Join with Computer Audio.
8. To turn your camera on and off, tap the video icon at the bottom.
9. To turn your audio on and off, tap the audio (microphone) icon.
10. When you're done, click Leave Meeting at the bottom right corner.
► How do I participate with an Android Phone?

Download and Install Zoom

Using the Zoom app gives you access to more Zoom features. If you do not install the app, you can join on a browser like Chrome, but you may be limited in what you can do.
1. Open the Google Play Store on your phone.
2. Tap the search bar at the top and type “Zoom”.
3. Look for “Zoom - One Platform to Connect” and tap it.
4. Tap Install and wait for it to finish downloading.
Open and Sign In or Sign Up
1. Open the Zoom app by tapping the Zoom icon on your home screen.
2. If you already have a Zoom account, tap Sign In and enter the information.
3. If you do not have a Zoom account:
  1. If you do not want a Zoom account, you can join the meeting. Read “Join a Hearing and Participate in the Hearing” below.
  2. If you want a Zoom account, tap Sign Up in the lower left corner. Follow the steps.
  Join and Participate in the Hearing
  1. Tap Join a Meeting on the Zoom home screen.
  2. Enter the Meeting ID. This will be on the notice the court sent.
  3. Make sure you type in your full name or change your user name to your full name so the judge knows who you are.
  4. Tap Join Meeting.
  5. Enter the password. This will be on the notice the court sent.
  6. The first time you use Zoom, you may have to give Zoom access to your microphone.
  7. When you join, Zoom will ask if you want to connect audio. Tap Call via Device Audio.
  8. To turn your camera on and off, tap the video icon at the bottom.
  9. To turn your audio on and off, tap the audio (microphone) icon.
  10. When you're done, tap Leave in the bottom right corner.
  ► How do I participate with an iPhone or iPad?
  
  Download and Install Zoom
  
  Using the Zoom app gives you access to more Zoom features. If you do not install the app, you can join on a browser like Chrome, but you may be limited in what you can do.
  1. Open the App Store on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the search bar at the top and type “Zoom”.
  3. Look for “Zoom - One Platform to Connect” and tap it.
  4. Tap Get, then Install and wait for it to finish downloading.
  Open and Sign In or Sign Up
  1. Open the Zoom app by tapping the Zoom icon on your home screen.
  2. If you already have a Zoom account, tap Sign In and enter the information.
  3. If you do not have a Zoom account:
    1. If you do not want a Zoom account, you can join the meeting. Read “Join a Hearing and Participate in the Hearing” below.
    2. If you want a Zoom account, tap Sign Up in the lower left corner. Follow the steps.
    Join and Participate in the Hearing
    1. Tap Join on the Zoom home screen.
    2. Enter the Meeting ID. This will be on the notice the court sent.
    3. Tap Join Meeting.
    4. Make sure you type in your full name or change your user name to your full name so the judge knows who you are.
    5. Tap Join Meeting.
    6. Enter the password. This will be on the notice the court sent.
    7. When you join, Zoom will ask if you want to connect audio. Tap Call using Internet Audio.
    8. If this is the first Zoom meeting that you have joined, you will be asked to give access to your microphone.
    9. To turn your camera on and off, tap the video icon at the bottom.
    10. To turn your audio on and off, tap the audio (microphone) icon.
    11. When you're done, tap Leave in the bottom right corner.
    ► Does the court recommend any Zoom settings?
    Zoom has a lot of settings, and as the system updates, certain aspects or features may change. Below are a few settings recommended by the court to improve your experience.
    - To help prevent you from accidentally leaving the meeting:
    - To help prevent poor video performance:
    - To verify your video is displaying correctly:
    - To see who else is on the call: