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Best Practices for Witnesses 

Participating in USCG Zoom Hearings

Below are important tips for witnesses when participating in United States Coast Guard (USCG) 

virtual hearings held on the Zoom for Government application.

1. Prior to Hearing:

a. Test Your Equipment – test your internet and Zoom connection prior to the 

hearing. The USCG uses the Zoom for Government application, which functions 

the same as the standard Zoom application. To test your setup prior to the 

hearing, visit https://zoom.us/test. You can log into Zoom via your phone or 

computer; logging in via computer is recommended but not required. If you log in 

via a computer, you will be given the option to download the Zoom app or log in via 

the browser. Either option is fine. 

b. Obtain Meeting ID & Password – make sure you are provided with the Zoom 

meeting ID and password for the hearing. The party or representative who 

requested your testimony is responsible for providing you with this information. 

Do not share the meeting ID and password with anyone.

c. Obtain Copy of Exhibits/Documents – make sure the party or representative who 

requested your testimony provides you with copies of all exhibits/documents you 

will use during your testimony. These can be either in hardcopy form (i.e. – paper) 

or electronic. If you only have electronic copies of these documents, make sure 

you can view these documents and also participate in the Zoom video hearing at 

the same time. 

d. Telephone Help Number – make sure the party or representative who requested 

your testimony provides you their telephone number to call if you have problems 

logging into Zoom. 

e. Your Surroundings – following these suggestions will improve the video quality:

i. Wear a solid color, not a pattern.

ii. Check lighting – ideally you want the main light source in the room facing 

you (strong light coming behind you can blind the camera). 

iii. Choose a solid neutral wall behind you. 

iv. Set yourself up in a private, quiet room. 
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2. During Hearing:

a. Log into Zoom for Government – when it is time for you to testify, if you are using a 

computer, go to https://www.zoomgov.com/ and use the Meeting ID and password 

to log into the hearing. If you are using a phone, log in through your Zoom app or 

enter the above internet address into your phone web browser. 

b. Provide Actual Name – if you log into Zoom with an account, make sure your 

account lists your actual name (not a nickname). If you log into Zoom as a guest, 

then type in your actual name (not nickname) when prompted to enter name. 

c. Waiting Room – once you log into Zoom, you will be initially placed into a virtual 

“waiting room.” Once the judge is ready, you will be admitted into the hearing 

itself. 

d. Formal Proceeding – even though this is a virtual hearing, this is still a formal 

proceeding, and the following protocols must be followed:

i. Do not communicate with anyone else when testifying. This means no 

texting or calling anyone from another device, and no talking to anyone in 

the same room.

ii. If there is another person in the room who can overhear your testimony, 

you must inform the judge of this person. 

iii. When speaking, look directly into the monitor. 

iv. Pay attention and do not multi-task (i.e. – no searching the internet, no 

playing a game, etc.). 

v. Let the representative/attorney or judge finish speaking before answering 

questions. 

vi. If an objection is made, stop speaking and let the judge rule on the 

objection. 

vii. Any recording of the hearing is absolutely prohibited.