Judge Brand’s Procedures Regarding Telephonic Appearances

Telephonic appearances before Judge Julia W. Brand in Courtroom 1375 are generally allowed without prior approval.  No telephonic appearances are allowed on the following types of matters:

1. Sale Motion
2. Cash Collateral Motion
3. Motion for Post-Petition Financing
4. Disclosure Statements
5. Chapter 11 Plan Confirmation
6. Evidentiary Hearings.
7. Chapter 13 Plan Confirmation
8. Reaffirmation Agreements

In order to appear telephonically, counsel must follow the following procedure:

Standard Procedure:   Telephone appearances may be arranged by calling Court Call, an independent conference call company no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to the hearing.  Court Call may be reached at (888) 882-6878.

Emergency Procedure:  If an unexpected emergency arises that prevents counsel from following the Standard Procedure, counsel must telephone chambers and obtain a law clerk’s approval to appear telephonically.   A law clerk will only approve late requests for legitimate and unanticipated emergencies.  Once approved, please notify the courtroom deputy of counsel’s approved telephonic appearance.  The courtroom deputy may be reached at 213-894-7341.

Once approved, counsel must contact Court Call to arrange a telephonic appearance.  If Court Call is not able to accommodate counsel’s late request or if the Judge’s law clerk denies the request, counsel will not be permitted to appear telephonically and counsel must make an appearance in court.

Individuals choosing to appear telephonically do so at their own risk.  Hearings generally will not be rescheduled due to missed connections.   Furthermore, in deciding to appear telephonically, counsel is agreeing to waive any prejudice attributable to quality deficiencies or irregularities of the record that may result.

Please be advised that poor reception will cause counsel’s appearance to be disconnected. Repeated poor connections may cause counsel to be barred from future telephonic appearances.

If an individual schedules a telephonic appearance and then fails to respond to the call of the matter on calendar, the Court may pass the matter or may treat the failure to respond as a failure to appear.

Before  appearing  telephonically,  please  check  Judge  Brand’s  calendar  and  review  any tentative rulings which can be found on webPACER.

Updated 02/28/13

Printable version of Judge Brand's Telephonic Appearance Procedures