A court appearance is conducted at a scheduled date and time where at least one attorney or other participant at a remote location appears before a court by video teleconference. The court and the remote participant communicate using video and audio conferencing equipment having the capability of displaying concurrently images of the court and the remote participant during the court appearance. This enables the court and the participant to hear and see video images each other during the court appearance. The operation of the conferencing equipment is initiated and terminated at the scheduled date and time of the court appearance.