Rule 21d.Appearances at Court Proceedings

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 21d makes physical presence the default for court proceedings but lets a court allow or require an electronic appearance, with limits — no forced electronic appearance for live-testimony hearings or jury trials without good cause or agreement.

Full Text of Rule 21d

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

(a) Definitions.

(1) “Court proceeding” means an appearance before the court, such as a hearing or trial.

(2) “Participant” means any party, attorney, witness, court reporter, or juror who participates in a court proceeding.

(b) Participant Method of Appearance.

(1) Unless the notice of court proceeding states otherwise, a person who participates in a court proceeding does so by physical presence in the courtroom. Upon appropriate notice by a party or the court, a court may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means, except as otherwise provided in (2).

(2) A court must not require:

(A) a party or lawyer to appear electronically for a court proceeding in which oral testimony is heard, absent good cause or the agreement of the parties; or

(B) a lawyer, party, or juror to appear electronically for a jury trial, absent the agreement of the parties.

(c) Judge Method of Appearance; Location. A judge may appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means. However, even if appearing electronically, a judge must conduct the court proceeding from a location required by law.

(d) Objection. A party may object to any method of appearance, stating good cause for the objection. The objection must be made within a reasonable time after the party receives notice of the appearance. The court may, but is not required to, conduct a hearing on the objection. Before proceeding by the objected-to method of appearance, the court must rule on the objection and timely communicate the ruling to the parties in a written order or on the record.

(e) Factors. In determining good cause under this rule, the court should consider factors such as:

(1) case type;

(2) court proceeding type;

(3) the number of parties and witnesses;

(4) the complexity of the legal and factual issues;

(5) the type of evidence to be submitted, if any;

(6) technological restrictions such as lack of access to or proficiency in necessary technology;

(7) travel restrictions such as lack of transportation, distance, or inability to take off work;

(8) whether a method of appearance is best suited to provide necessary language access services for a person with limited English proficiency or accommodations for a person with a disability; and

(9) any previous abuse of a method of appearance.

(f) Open Courts. If a court conducts a court proceeding in which all participants appear electronically, the court must:

(1) provide reasonable notice to the public of how to observe the court proceeding; and

(2) provide the public the opportunity to observe the court proceeding, unless the court has determined that it must close the court proceeding to protect an overriding interest, considered all less-restrictive alternatives to closure, and made findings on the record adequate to support closure.

End

Notes and Comments

Comment to 2023 change: New Rule 21d clarifies procedures for appearances at court proceedings. Paragraph (a) defines “court proceeding” and “participant.” Paragraph (b) governs a participant’s method of appearance. Certain statutes expressly prohibit or further permit electronic appearances, in which case the governing statute applies. Paragraph (c) provides that the judge may appear by electronic means, but it requires the judge to appear electronically from a location required by law. See, e.g., TEX. CONST. art. V, § 7(d); TEX. GOV’T CODE §§ 24.030(a), 26.002(c). Nothing in paragraph (c) permits the judge to conduct a proceeding away from a location required by law. Paragraph (d) addresses objections to any method of appearance, and paragraph (e) addresses good-cause factors. Paragraph (f) recognizes the public’s right to reasonable notice of and access to a fully electronic proceeding unless there is an overriding interest. A court should rarely close a court proceeding from public observation, and in such an exceptional case, the court must use the least restrictive measure to protect the overriding interest.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 21d sets the ground rules for how people appear in court, in person or by screen. By default, a participant appears by being physically present. With proper notice, a court may allow or require a participant to appear by videoconference, teleconference, or other electronic means.

Two limits protect live testimony and juries. A court may not require a party or lawyer to appear electronically for a hearing where oral testimony is heard, absent good cause or the parties' agreement. And it may not require a lawyer, party, or juror to appear electronically for a jury trial without the parties' agreement. A judge may appear electronically but must run the proceeding from a location the law requires.

A party who objects to a method of appearance must say so within a reasonable time and state good cause; the court rules on the objection, on the record, before going ahead. The rule lists factors for weighing good cause, from the case type to a participant's access to technology. And when everyone appears electronically, the court must give the public notice and a way to watch, unless it makes findings that justify closing the proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Texas court make you appear by Zoom?

Sometimes. A court may require an electronic appearance, but not for a hearing with oral testimony absent good cause or agreement, and not for a jury trial without the parties' agreement.

How do you object to a remote appearance under Rule 21d?

Object within a reasonable time after you receive notice, and state good cause. The court must rule on the objection, in a written order or on the record, before proceeding by the disputed method.

Can the public watch a fully electronic hearing?

Yes. When all participants appear electronically, the court must give the public reasonable notice and an opportunity to observe, unless it has made findings that support closing the proceeding.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21d), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: appearances at court proceedingsremote appearanceZoom hearingelectronic appearancevideoconferenceTRCP 21d