Rule 7.2.Hearings by telephone or video teleconference
Title III: Pleadings; Motions; Scheduling · Last amended July 1, 2016 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 7.2 authorizes Idaho courts to hold most motions, certain evidentiary matters, and other pretrial matters by telephone or video teleconference, requires the session to be recorded and documented, and lets the prevailing party recover the cost as a discretionary cost.
(a)Hearings allowed. The court may hold hearings by telephone or video teleconference on the following:
(1)any motion, except motions for summary judgment, unless the parties stipulate to allow a summary judgment motion to be heard by telephone or video teleconference;
(2)any evidentiary hearing, when no oral testimony is to be introduced at the hearing, except the court may allow testimony by video teleconference if the parties stipulate; or
(1)Minutes of any hearing or matter heard by telephone or video teleconference must be prepared and filed in the action.
(2)The hearing or matter to be audio recorded electronically with the recording to be made, retained and erased as the court may direct.
(3)The costs for the telephone or video teleconference may be allowed as discretionary costs to the party who paid for the costs if that party is the prevailing party in the action.
Amendment History
(Adopted March 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2016.)
Plain-English Summary
Rule 7.2 lets a court hear most motions, along with other pretrial matters, by telephone or video instead of requiring everyone in the courtroom. Summary judgment motions are the exception — those stay in person unless the parties agree otherwise. Evidentiary hearings can go remote too, as long as no live testimony is planned, though the court can allow testimony by video teleconference if the parties agree.
Whatever the format, the hearing has to leave a record: minutes must be prepared and filed in the case, and the proceeding must be recorded, with the court directing how the recording is kept and eventually erased. A party who pays for the telephone or video setup can seek that cost back as a discretionary cost if that party ends up prevailing in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ask the court to hear my motion by telephone?
Yes, for most motions. The main exception is summary judgment motions, which require an in-person hearing unless the parties stipulate to hear it by telephone or video.
Are evidentiary hearings ever held remotely?
Yes, as long as no oral testimony is planned. If the parties agree, the court can also allow testimony by video teleconference.
Does a telephone or video hearing get recorded?
Yes. The rule requires the hearing to be recorded electronically and requires minutes of the hearing to be prepared and filed in the case.
Can I recover the cost of setting up a video hearing?
If you paid for the telephone or video teleconference and go on to prevail in the action, that cost can be allowed as a discretionary cost.
Can witnesses testify by video during a pretrial hearing?
Generally the rule reserves remote evidentiary hearings for situations without live testimony, but it allows testimony by video teleconference if the parties stipulate to it.
Source & verification. Rule text
are reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Idaho. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
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