videoconference first for state court

Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 | 9 a.m.

A bed-ridden mother suffering from severe multiple sclerosis in a Boston suburb was allowed to participate in her child custody hearing Thursday in Las Vegas via a real-time videoconference feed.

It's believed to be the first time a Nevada court has allowed anyone to participate through a videoconference.

Using the versatility of the Regional Justice Center, Family Court Judge Stephanie Miley allowed Layla Coneal to appear in court on television monitors during testimony to determine whether she or her estranged husband, Steve Coneal, would receive custody of their 2-year-old son.

Technicians used a videocamera, microphone and other equipment -- supplied by court administration and shipped to Layla Coneal's home -- to send a video signal over the Internet.

This setup allowed all parties to both see and hear each other as Miley presided over the hearing in District Judge Michael Cherry's courtroom.

Layla Coneal was seen lying in her bed at home with a computer expert at her side as she listened to testimony on Tuesday. She is expected to become the first person to testify in a Nevada court through the use of a videoconference feed in a hearing this morning.

Videoconferencing has been used for arraignments in Justice Court, and videotaped depositions are regularly used in both civil and criminal trials, but Assistant Court Administrator Brian Gilmore said the Coneal case is believed to be the first hearing in which the technology has been used in Nevada.

The meeting of technology and justice would not have been possible if it wasn't for the fact that all of the courtrooms in the new Regional Justice Center are fully wired to record audio and video.

Layla Coneal's attorney, John Kelleher, said he "would have preferred to have had her here in person, (but) because she is bedridden due to multiple sclerosis, this is the best situation we could have asked for."

Kelleher, who said he was required to post $3,500 bond to secure the court's equipment, said he believes this technology could save time and money for situations that arise outside of medical need.

"Certainly it would be nice to see it used for some medical experts," Kelleher said. "I mean it would have cost us thousands and thousands of dollars for everyone to have flown out to Boston to take a videotaped deposition in this case. "Videoconferencing is cheap and really helps out in Family Court where litigants are responsible for all costs."

Steve Coneal's attorney, Brian Griffith, praised Miley for "making a quantum leap forward in the area of ensuring all parties have access to justice."

"This is a high-tech extension of the Americans With Disabilities Act," Griffith said. "Wheelchair ramps are one thing, but this is cutting edge."

The hearing proceeded smoothly aside from a short period of time when the video feed was lost and Layla Coneal was only able to participate via the telephone, which resulted in several "Do you hear me now" exchanges among attorneys, witnesses, Miley and Layla Coneal.

Matt Pordum can be reached at 474-7406 or at pordum@lasvegassun.com.