Tex. R. Civ. P. 21d
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.