Yes, in most situations, anyone can join a Zoom court hearing as a guest observer, because court proceedings in the United States are presumed open to the public and that presumption carries over when the courtroom moves online. The important caveats: federal criminal hearings generally offer no remote public access, certain case types are closed by law, and every court sets its own procedure for getting the link. You watch and listen only; you cannot record, and you cannot participate.
Why Court Hearings Are Open in the First Place
The U.S. Supreme Court held in Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia (1980) that the First Amendment guarantees the public and the press a right to attend criminal trials, and that closure requires a compelling interest, narrowly tailored.1Justia US Supreme Court. Richmond Newspapers Inc v Virginia 448 US 555 (1980)2Legal Information Institute. US Constitution Annotated Amendment I – Access to Government Places and Papers Courts have generally extended that open-access principle to virtual proceedings. The mechanics change—you get a link instead of a seat—but the underlying right does not.
That is the default. The rest of this article is about how the default gets applied, narrowed, or replaced depending on which court you are trying to watch.
The Big Exception: Federal Criminal Hearings
This is where public expectation and reality diverge most sharply. There is generally no remote public access to federal criminal proceedings.3United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings If you want to observe a federal criminal case, you almost always have to go to the courthouse.
The reason is Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, which prohibits the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.4Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 53 – Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited The Judicial Conference of the United States reads that rule to bar remote public access even when the hearing itself is being run over video between the judge, attorneys, and defendant.
Federal civil and bankruptcy cases are treated more openly. Under a Judicial Conference policy effective September 22, 2023, judges may allow the public to access live audio of non-trial civil and bankruptcy proceedings, so long as no witness is testifying. Access is audio-only and left to each judge’s discretion.3United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings
State courts vary widely. Many opened broad public access to virtual hearings during the pandemic; some livestream on YouTube, others post public dial-in numbers, and some have scaled back. There is no single national standard, so a state case in one county may be one click away while an identical case next door requires a call to the clerk.
Cases That Are Closed to Guests Entirely
Even where remote access exists, some proceedings are not open to the public in any format. Common categories:
- Family law matters like child custody disputes, abuse allegations, and adoptions, which are frequently closed to protect the privacy of minors and families.
- Trade secret litigation, where courts often issue protective orders limiting who can view filings and hearings.
- Cases involving classified information.
- Juvenile proceedings, nearly all of which are closed to protect the minor’s identity.
- Grand jury proceedings, which are always closed by law.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 gives courts authority to seal documents and limit nonparties’ remote electronic access to filings.5Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 5.2 – Privacy Protection for Filings Made With the Court The party asking for closure has to justify it with specifics; general embarrassment is not enough.
How to Find the Link and Join
Start with the court’s website. Most courts post remote-access instructions and indicate whether a particular hearing will be virtual and how the public can observe. Federal appellate courts typically post their own instructions for remote observation of oral arguments.3United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings
For federal cases, PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) lets you search dockets. The hearing notice for a virtual proceeding usually lists the platform, meeting ID, and any password. In state courts, the pattern is uneven: some post hearing calendars with Zoom links directly online, others require you to contact the clerk’s office. Notices are typically posted several days out, so check early. If you cannot find access information, call the clerk. They handle these requests routinely.
What Happens When You Click the Link
You will not land straight in the hearing. Most courts route everyone through a Zoom waiting room, where court staff admit attendees one by one. You enter your name and wait.
Use your real, full name. Nicknames, device defaults like “iPhone,” and anonymous entries can get you denied entry. Parties and witnesses may be asked to hold up a government-issued photo ID on camera before things begin, and counsel may be told to announce their appearance and identify anyone watching or listening through their connection.
As a guest observer, expect to be placed in listen-only or view-only mode. Many courts run public access through Zoom’s webinar feature, which lets you watch and listen but not unmute, share your screen, or interact. Some courts push the feed to YouTube instead, which adds roughly a 30-second delay but keeps observers entirely outside the virtual courtroom. Active participants keep full audio and video but are usually muted until called on.
What You Cannot Do as a Guest
This is the rule that catches guests off guard: public access does not mean you can record. Watching and listening in real time is not the same as capturing and redistributing.
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53 bars photographing and broadcasting proceedings from the courtroom, and courts apply that prohibition to virtual hearings. The rule’s committee notes confirm that “broadcasting” covers modern equivalents, which courts have read to include screen recording, screenshots, and audio capture.4Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 53 – Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited State courts impose similar restrictions through their own rules.
Consequences are real. Under 18 U.S.C. § 401, federal courts can punish contempt with fines, imprisonment, or both.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 US Code 401 – Power of Court Short of that, a court can remove you, bar you from future hearings, and revoke any media credentials. If a court has authorized media coverage of a specific proceeding, it will spell out exactly what is permitted. Assume nothing beyond silent observation unless the court says otherwise.
How to Behave So You Are Not Removed
Zoom hearings carry the same behavioral expectations as physical courtrooms, and judges have held people in contempt for disruptions during virtual proceedings. The threshold for “disruptive” is lower than most people expect.
- Dress the way you would for court. Business or business-casual. Judges have publicly called out people appearing shirtless or in pajamas.
- Keep your microphone off unless you are specifically asked to speak.
- Use a neutral background. Some courts prohibit virtual backgrounds outright.
- No eating, smoking, or driving during the hearing. Chewing gum is also out.
- Find a quiet, private space. Background noise from pets, children, or a television is grounds for removal.
- Leave the chat function alone unless the court instructs you to use it.
Enforcement is progressive: warning, removal, then possible contempt. The safest posture is to treat the Zoom window as a courtroom you have walked into, because legally that is what it is.
The Short Version
If you want to watch a state civil, family, or minor criminal matter, there is a good chance you can join by Zoom or by a livestream posted on the court’s website; check the court’s site or call the clerk. If you want to watch a federal criminal hearing, plan on driving to the courthouse. If you get in, use your real name, stay muted, do not record anything, and behave as you would in the gallery of a physical courtroom.