STMCLR  3.4
                  VIDEO CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS


     (1) Authorization.  Preliminary appearances held pursuant to CrRLJ
3.2.1(d), arraignments held pursuant to CrRLJ 3.4 and CrRLJ 4.1,
bail hearings held pursuant to CrRLJ 3.2, and trial settings held
pursuant to CrRLJ 3.3(f), may be conducted by video conference in
which all participants can simultaneously see, hear, and speak with
each other.  Such proceedings shall be deemed held in open court and
in the defendant's presence for the purposes of any statute, court
rule or policy.  All video conference hearings conducted pursuant to
this rule shall be public, and the public shall be able to
simultaneously see and hear all participants and speak as permitted
by the SeaTac Municipal Court Judge or Judge Pro-Tem.  Any party may
request an in-person hearing, which may be granted at the discretion
of the SeaTac Municipal Court Judge or Judge Pro-Tem.

     (2) Agreement.  Other trial court proceedings including the entry
of a Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty as provided for by
CrRLJ 4.2 may be conducted by video conference only by agreement of
the parties, either in writing or on the record, and upon the
approval of the SeaTac Municipal Court Judge or Judge Pro-Tem.

     (3) Standards for Video Conference Proceedings.  The judge,
counsel, all parties, and the public must be able to see and hear
each other during proceedings, and speak as permitted by the judge.
Video conference facilities must provide for confidential
communications between attorney and client and security sufficient
to protect the safety of all participants and observers.  In
interpreted proceedings, the interpreter must be located next to the
defendant and the proceeding must be conducted to assure that the
interpreter can hear all participants.


[Effective Date: September 1, 2007]