| name | in-hearings |
| title | Indiana Hearings — Preparation and Conduct |
| description | This skill should be used when the user asks to "prepare for an Indiana hearing", "oral argument Indiana", "Indiana courtroom etiquette", "Marion zoom hearing", "Indiana virtual hearing", "WebEx Indiana court", "hearing day checklist Indiana", "Indiana evidentiary hearing", "Indiana CCS conference", "Indiana telephonic hearing", "Indiana bench trial", or any related hearing-preparation question. Covers oral argument in motion practice, evidentiary hearings, the statewide Webex remote-hearing protocol under Indiana Administrative Rule 14, courtroom etiquette, hearing-day logistics, exhibit handling, the role of the court reporter, and pro se conduct expectations. Trigger phrases: "Indiana hearing prep", "Marion oral argument", "Lake bench trial", "Webex Indiana", "Admin Rule 14", "Indiana courtroom protocol", "evidentiary hearing Indiana". |
| author | codearranger |
| author_url | https://github.com/codearranger/claude-legal/tree/main/plugins/in-court-docs/skills/in-hearings |
| license | MIT |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | litigation |
| language | en |
Indiana Hearings — Preparation and Conduct
This skill covers everything that happens between motion filing
and the judge's ruling: oral argument, evidentiary hearings,
status conferences, pretrial conferences, and bench trials. It
applies to in-person hearings at the venue courthouse and remote
hearings conducted via Cisco Webex under Indiana Administrative
Rule 14.
NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Generated content is a drafting aid;
verify the specific courtroom's procedure and the assigned
judge's hearing preferences before appearing.
When does a hearing get set?
Indiana motion practice under T.R. 7 does NOT automatically set
oral argument. Most civil motions are decided on the briefs
without oral argument unless the court orders argument or a
party requests it under T.R. 73(C). The court considers requests
for oral argument on a case-by-case basis; complex motions
(summary judgment under T.R. 56, preliminary injunctions under
T.R. 65) are more likely to be heard than simple motions.
To request oral argument:
- State the request in the motion itself: "Defendant
respectfully requests oral argument on this motion pursuant
to Trial Rule 73(C)."
- File a Notice of Setting once the court grants argument; the
court typically issues the Notice of Setting itself.
For evidentiary hearings (preliminary injunctions, protective
orders, contempt hearings), the court will set the hearing
automatically when the motion is granted in part as a request to
hear evidence.
Webex remote hearings — Indiana Administrative Rule 14
In 2020, Indiana adopted Administrative Rule 14 authorizing
remote hearings via the statewide Cisco Webex system. The rule
was renewed in 2022 with permanent authorization. Highlights:
- Every Indiana trial court has a dedicated Webex room with a
permanent URL on the court's website.
- The judge decides whether to set a hearing in person, by
telephone, or by Webex. Routine status conferences are usually
Webex; evidentiary hearings are usually in person.
- A party may move for in-person setting on a showing of good
cause (e.g., need for live testimony assessment).
- Indiana Admin. R. 14 sets technical requirements: camera + mic
required; participants must remain visible and audible.
Typical Marion Civil Division Webex protocol:
1. Click the Webex link on the courtroom's webpage 10 min before
2. Enter your name as: "[Last Name], [First Name] — [role]"
Example: "Doe, Jane — Defendant Pro Se"
3. Mute by default; unmute only when the judge addresses you
4. Camera ON unless the judge instructs otherwise
5. Wait until called by the bailiff
6. Stand (if able) when speaking to the judge — same as in-person
7. Remain on the call until dismissed
