I 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6472 

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for video teleconferencing 

for certain criminal proceedings, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 21, 2022 

Mr. MORELLE (for himself, Mrs. FISCHBACH, and Mr. BACON) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for video 

teleconferencing for certain criminal proceedings, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Courtroom 

5 Videoconferencing Act of 2022’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

7 It is the sense of Congress that— 

8 (1) it is important to modernize Federal courts 

9 to allow for videoconferencing in certain criminal 

10 proceedings, which flexibility Congress authorized 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 6472 IH

1 under the CARES Act, which provided for such an 

2 option at the discretion of the chief judge of a dis3 trict court during the national emergency associated 

4 with the COVID–19 pandemic; 

5 (2) the efficiency and expediency gained from 

6 the flexibility authorized under the CARES Act 

7 should be made permanent; and 

8 (3) such an option should not impede constitu9 tional rights, but expand and protect them during 

10 times when meeting together may be difficult and in11 efficient. 

12 SEC. 3. VIDEO TELECONFERENCING FOR CERTAIN CRIMI13 NAL PROCEEDINGS. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 201 of title 18, United 

15 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3014 

16 the following new section: 

17 ‘‘§ 3015. Video teleconferencing for certain criminal 

18 proceedings 

19 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The chief judge of a district 

20 court may authorize the use of video teleconferencing, or 

21 telephone conferencing if video teleconferencing is not rea22 sonably available, for the following events: 

23 ‘‘(1) Detention hearings under section 3142 of 

24 title 18, United States Code. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 6472 IH

1 ‘‘(2) Initial appearances under Rule 5 of the 

2 Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

3 ‘‘(3) Preliminary hearings under Rule 5.1 of 

4 the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

5 ‘‘(4) Waivers of indictment under Rule 7(b) of 

6 the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

7 ‘‘(5) Arraignments under Rule 10 of the Fed8 eral Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

9 ‘‘(6) Probation and supervised release revoca10 tion proceedings under Rule 32.1 of the Federal 

11 Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

12 ‘‘(7) Pretrial release revocation proceedings 

13 under section 3148. 

14 ‘‘(8) Appearances under Rule 40 of the Federal 

15 Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

16 ‘‘(9) Misdemeanor pleas and sentencings as de17 scribed in Rule 43(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of 

18 Criminal Procedure. 

19 ‘‘(10) Proceedings under chapter 403 (com20 monly known as the ‘Federal Juvenile Delinquency 

21 Act’), except for contested transfer hearings and ju22 venile delinquency adjudication or trial proceedings. 

23 ‘‘(b) CONSENT.—Video conferencing or telephone 

24 conferencing authorized under subsection (a) may only 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 6472 IH

1 take place with the consent of the defendant, or the juve2 nile, after consultation with counsel. 

3 ‘‘(c) ACCESS TO COUNSEL.—Video teleconferencing 

4 or telephone teleconferencing authorized under subsection 

5 (a) shall provide the defendant the ability to privately con6 sult with counsel if requested.’’. 

7 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

8 for chapter 201 of title 18, United States Code, is amend9 ed by inserting after the item relating to 3014 the fol10 lowing new item: 

‘‘3015. Video teleconferencing for certain criminal proceedings.’’. 

11 SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

12 Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this 

13 Act, shall obviate a defendant’s right to counsel under the 

14 Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United 

15 States, any Federal statute, or the Federal Rules of Crimi16 nal Procedure. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS