Ohio Sup.R. 9.22

(A) Visibility

All participants, interpreters, parties, judicial officers, court personnel, and attorneys shall

be completely and clearly visible on the screen.

(B) Virtual backgrounds

Sign language interpreters and deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals and witnesses shall not

use virtual backgrounds. Movement on the video disrupts the stability of the virtual

background and may cause the sign language to be unclear.

(C) Video feeds

(1) A total of nine visible video feeds on the screen is recommended. However, no

more than nine visible video feeds should be on the screen, as the visible video feed

of the sign language interpreter and the deaf or hard- of-hearing individual are

reduced in size, making visibility of small hand and face movement difficult. If

more than twelve visible video feeds are necessary, technology shall be used to

allow the visible video feed of the sign language interpreter and the deaf or hard -

of-hearing individual to remain in a stable location on the screen or to be larger than

other participants.

(2) Participants may not turn their video feed off and on once the proceeding has begun.

Doing so may cause movement of individual visible video feed locations on the

screen and disrupt the ability to seamlessly view the foreign language interpreter,

the limited English proficient person, sign language interpreter, or deaf or hard-of-hearing individual. If it is critical that a video feed be turned off and on during the

proceeding, technology should be used to allow the visible video feed of the limited

English speaker, foreign language interpreter, sign language interpreter, and the

deaf or hard-of-hearing individual to remain in a stable location on the screen or to

be larger than other participants.

(3) Participants on the device screen shall be visible from approximately the waist to

the top of the head to allow the deaf or hard- of-hearing individual to read

participants’ facial expressions and body language.

(D) Video screens

(1) Video screens used in the courtroom should be mobile to accommodate a variety of

remote interpreting configurations.

(2) When a sign language interpreter is remote and the individual, the judicial officer,

court personnel, and attorneys are in the courtroom, the video screen should be

placed so the deaf or hard-of-hearing individual can see both the interpreter and the

judge in the same line of sight.

(3) Beware of using small tablets or phones with small screens that may not be

adequate for sign language interpreting.

(E) Video camera placement

(1) Video camera placement in the courtroom shall allow for complete and clear

visibility of a sign language interpreter and deaf or hard- of-hearing individual in a

variety of remote interpreting configurations. Video cameras should be

independent of the video screen and stationary during the proceeding.

(2) When a sign language interpreter is remote and the deaf or hard-of-hearing

individual, the judicial officer, court personnel, and attorneys are in the courtroom,

the video camera should be located so the deaf or hard- of-hearing individual is

framed to be visible from approximately the waist to the top of the head.

(3) When a sign language interpreter and the deaf or hard-of-hearing individual are

remote and the judicial officer, court personnel, and attorneys are in the courtroom,

the video camera should be located so the interpreter and the deaf or hard- of-hearing individual can see the various parties in the courtroom.

(4) When the deaf or hard-of-hearing individual is remote and the judicial officer, court

personnel, and attorneys are in the courtroom, the video camera in the external

location should be located so the deaf or hard- of-hearing individual is clearly and

completely visible to the sign language interpreter. The video camera in the

courtroom should be placed so the sign language interpreter, as well as those in the

courtroom who will be speaking primarily, are clearly and completely visible to the

deaf or hard-of-hearing individual.

(F) Audio

(1) Audio shall allow for all to clearly hear what is being said by the interpreter, the

judicial officer, court personnel, and attorney throughout the courtroom.

(2) When any participant is remote while others are in the courtroom, sound from the

video screen should be amplified in some manner. Additionally, sound from the

courtroom should be amplified in some manner so as to be audible to the interpreter,

regardless of where the deaf or hard-of-hearing individual is in the courtroom.

(3) When all participants are remote, participants who will be using spoken language

to communicate may use a microphone that is independent of the built-in

microphone on the computer.