Bill > SCR54

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Judiciary, which refers to the court system, to permanently offer an option for individuals seeking temporary restraining orders (TROs) to testify remotely, meaning from a location other than the courthouse, for their hearings. A TRO is a court order that provides immediate protection to someone who is experiencing or is at risk of domestic violence or intimate partner violence. The resolution highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased use of remote technology in courts and argues that allowing remote testimony for TRO petitioners can prevent further trauma for survivors who might be retraumatized by facing their alleged abusers in court, while still respecting the accused's right to confront witnesses. It also suggests that the Judiciary should establish specific conditions under which remote testimony would be allowed, such as in cases of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or when a petitioner has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.