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Best Practices for Spectators

Attending USCG Zoom Hearings

Hearings conducted by United States Coast Guard (USCG) Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) 

are open to the public unless ordered closed by the ALJ to protect national security, proprietary

information, or sensitive information concerning minors or victims. If you would like to observe a 

virtual hearing, please review these important tips for participation as a spectator:

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 http://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. To obtain the meeting ID and 

password, please email that request to the USCG Docketing Center at 

john.c.johns@uscg.mil. In this request, please provide your name and identify 

the reason for wanting to observe the hearing. Please make this request at least 

five days prior to the hearing. The Docketing Center will compile a list of 

anticipated spectators and provide that to the ALJ before the hearing. If you are 

not on this list, you will not be allowed to spectate the hearing. Reminder: you 

are a spectator, not a party or a witness; therefore, you are not to contact 

the ALJ directly. The ALJ controls the hearing and interruptions or 

outbursts from a spectator will result in removal from the virtual hearing. 

c. 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 from 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 – shortly before the hearing is to begin, log into 

Zoom for Government. 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 – when you log into Zoom, type in your actual name (not 

nickname) that you provided the Hearing Docket Clerk. 

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

“waiting room.” Once the ALJ is ready to admit spectators into the hearing, the 

ALJ will admit those people in the waiting room who are on the spectator list. If 

you did not previously identify yourself to the Hearing Docket Clerk as a potential 

spectator, you will not be allowed into the hearing. 

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

adjudication, and the following spectator protocols must be followed:

i. Your microphone must be muted at all times. Spectators are allowed 

to observe, but may not participate in hearings. 

ii. Your camera must be on at all times. While spectators do not 

participate in the hearing, the ALJ needs to see all individuals attending 

the hearing. 

iii. If there is another person in the room who can overhear or see the 

hearing via your computer/phone, this person must be identified to the 

Hearing Docket Clerk as a spectator. 

iv. Recording parts or all of the hearing is absolutely prohibited.