Superior Court Seeks Comment on Amendments to Criminal Rule 43 Regarding Remote Appearance

September 02, 2022

The D.C. Superior Court is seeking comment on proposed amendments to Criminal Rule 43 that will expand the court’s authority to permit a defendant to appear remotely. The amended rule also clarifies when a defendant must be physically present, when the defendant may participate remotely, and when a proceeding may occur in a defendant’s absence. The revisions largely follow the court’s temporary emergency authority to expand the types of proceedings that can occur virtually.

The court’s Rules Committee will recommend approval of the amendments by the Superior Court Board of Judges unless, after consideration of comments from the bar and the public, they are modified or withdrawn. View the full text of the notice, including the language of the proposed changes, here.

Submit written comments by October 5, 2022, by email to [email protected] or by mail to:

Pedro E. Briones
Associate General Counsel
District of Columbia Courts
500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 6715
Washington, DC 20001