In June, Judge Barash updated his posted “telephonic” procedures to include ZoomGov instructions and announced that he would be holding all hearings (unless otherwise ordered) using ZoomGov audio and video—at least through the end of the year. His procedures are here (under “Telephonic Instructions”).
I am advised that he has decided to continue this policy for the foreseeable future. In furtherance of that decision, he has established supplemental requirements for noticing motions that require a hearing before him. Those procedures are here (under “Self Calendaring”).
These requirements are intended to ensure that parties get the maximum notice possible that a hearing will be held remotely and get the necessary information to connect to that hearing, either by computer, handheld device or telephone.
The following, which describes the new policy, has been added to Judge Barash’s publicly posted self-calendaring procedures.
Until further notice, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of Judge Barash’s hearings will be conducted remotely, using ZoomGov audio and video. Accordingly, in addition to all other applicable noticing requirements, and pursuant to the authority granted under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9007, Judge Barash requires that a moving party or other party noticing a ZoomGov hearing before him (i) file and serve a completed Supplemental Notice of Hearing to Be Held Remotely Using ZoomGov Audio and Video (“Supplemental Notice”), at the same time the principal notice of such hearing is to be filed and served, or (ii) incorporate conforming language into such principal notice. The form of Supplemental Notice approved by Judge Barash for a hearing in a bankruptcy case can be found here. The form of the Supplemental Notice approved by Judge Barash for a hearing in an adversary proceeding can be found here. The unique ZoomGov connection information for each day’s hearings before Judge Barash—which information is necessary to complete the Supplemental Notice–is posted on his public calendar, which can be located at: http://ecf-ciao.cacb.