In the coming months, Judge Gorman will begin phasing out the telephone conference format currently used for her regular Thursday and monthly Urbana motion calls. In its place, the "hybrid" Zoom® hearing format currently used for her regular Tuesday motion calls in Springfield will be implemented and used for all regular motion calls. The timeline for the change is as follows.

Beginning July 11, 2024, Judge Gorman's regularly-scheduled Thursday motion calls will be held in person in her Springfield courtroom with an option for parties and practitioners to appear and participate remotely via Zoom®.

Beginning September 11, 2024, Judge Gorman's monthly Urbana motion calls will also be held in person in her Springfield courtroom with an option for parties and practitioners to appear and participate remotely via Zoom®.

The "hybrid" hearing format used by Judge Gorman is intended to increase access to the court and accommodate the schedules of participants for whom it would be difficult to appear in person. Without a feasible alternative, Urbana case participants could face an undue burden in having to travel to Springfield for all matters set in cases filed in the Urbana Division. For most participants, Zoom® offers relief from that burden. But Zoom® may not be an available option for all participants. As such, for Urbana cases only, parties who are unable to appear by Zoom® because they do not have a camera/microphone enabled, internet capable device may have the additional option to appear and participate by telephone rather than Zoom® or in person.

This telephone participation option is limited to Urbana cases set for hearing in person with a Zoom® option and to participants in those cases who do not have access to a device capable of video conferencing. It does not apply to settings for which in-person appearances are required by notice or court order, and it does not apply to cases filed in the Springfield Division. In all instances, the hearing notice will dictate the method of and available options for participation.

For general information about Judge Gorman's Zoom® policies, see the Zoom Video Hearing Guide for Participants posted on the Court's website.