Opinion ID: 214470
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony Via Video Teleconferencing

Text: Jennings claims that the district court erred by requiring that four of his witnesses testify via video teleconferencing. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide that “[f]or good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 43(a). The district court determined that compelling circumstances justified requiring Jennings’ witnesses to testify via video teleconferencing. The district court found that three witnesses presented security threats because they were housed at maximum security prisons and had extensive disciplinary No. 09-1372 Jennings v. Bradley Page 6 records, and that the fourth witness was in a crisis stabilization program and would not have access to proper mental health support if he were transported to another facility. Cf. Barnes v. Black, 544 F.3d 807, 810 (7th Cir. 2008) (noting that moving inmates “to a distant court entails cost and even danger”). The district court also ensured that appropriate safeguards were instituted. The jury could listen to the witnesses and observe their demeanor, Jennings could question them, and the transmission was instantaneous.2 Thus, we hold that the district court did not err by requiring Jennings’ witnesses to testify via video teleconferencing.