Opinion
11 CV 5845-LTS
09-21-2021
NUNEZ, Plaintiff, v. N.Y.C. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS et al., Defendant.
ORDER
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
The Court has received and reviewed the letter from Plaintiffs' counsel requesting an emergency conference. (Docket entry no. 383.) A conference is hereby scheduled to occur as a video conference using the Microsoft Teams platform on September 24, 2021, at 10:00am.
To optimize the quality of the video feed, only the Court and one representative each of defense counsel, plaintiffs' counsel, counsel for the Government, and the Monitor will appear by video for the proceeding; all others will participate by telephone. The video participants are hereby directed to email SwainNYSDcorresp@nysd.uscourts.gov their contact information 48 hours in advance of the hearing. Chambers will then email the representative parties with further information on how to access the video call and, if requested, a telephone number that may be used by additional representatives who wish to participate by audio only. Those participating by video will be provided a link to be pasted into their browser. The link should be used only at the time of the hearing. To optimize use of the video conference technology, all those participating by video should:
1. Log in from a quiet, stationary, non-public location, in order to minimize background noise and potential service interruptions.
2. Use the most recent version of Firefox, Chrome, or Safari as the web browser. Do not use Internet Explorer.
3. Use hard-wired internet or WiFi. If using WiFi, the device should be positioned as close to the Wi-Fi router as possible to ensure a strong signal. (Weak signals may cause delays or dropped feeds.)
4. Minimize the number of others using the same WiFi router during the hearing.
Further, all participants must identify themselves every time they speak, spell any proper names for the court reporter, and take care not to interrupt or speak over one another.
Other co-counsel, members of the press, and the public may access the audio feed of the hearing by calling 888-363-4734 and using access code 1527005# and security code 4999#. All of those accessing the hearing - whether in listen-only mode or otherwise - are reminded that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited. See Standing Order M-10-468, No. 21-MC-45 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 19, 2021). Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court.
If Microsoft Teams does not work well enough and the Court decides to transition to its teleconference line, counsel should call 888-363-4734 and use access code 1527005# and security code 4999#. (Members of the press and public may call the same number, but will not be permitted to speak during the hearing.) In that event, counsel should adhere to the following rules and guidelines during the hearing:
1. Each party should designate a single lawyer to speak on its behalf (including when noting the appearances of other counsel on the telephone).
2. Counsel should dial in from a quiet, stationary, non-public location, use a landline whenever possible, use a headset instead of a speakerphone, and mute themselves whenever they are not speaking, to minimize background noise and service interruptions. In addition, counsel should not use voice-activated systems that do not allow the user to know when someone else is trying to speak at the same time.
3. To facilitate an orderly teleconference and the creation of an accurate transcript, counsel are required to identify themselves every time they speak. Counsel should spell any proper names for the court reporter. Counsel should also take special care not to interrupt or speak over one another.
4. If there is a beep or chime indicating that a new caller has joined while counsel is speaking, counsel should pause to allow the Court to ascertain the identity of the new participant and confirm that the court reporter has not been dropped from the call.
SO ORDERED.