Does My Zoom Plea Count? The Truth About Virtual Court in Orlando

By: John Guidry

I remember my early days in the music video business back in the 80s—we had these massive cameras that felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. You knew exactly where the camera was, and you knew exactly who was behind it. Fast forward to 2025, and now I’m standing in my kitchen or a small office, staring at a “Brady Bunch” style grid of faces on a screen for a court hearing.

Virtual court comes in several flavors: some judges love MS Teams, others just want a phone call. It’s convenient, sure, but it’s also a legal minefield. If you aren’t careful, “blabbing” into a webcam can lead to a world of hurt. Not every hearing is built for the virtual world, and some judges still act like the internet is a passing fad, demanding you show up in the flesh.

Entering a plea virtually in Central Florida? Don’t let a technicality turn a “done deal” into a disaster. Call John Guidry at (407) 423-1117 to discuss your defense.

The Legal Breakdown: The Zoom Era of Justice

The rules for virtual court are evolving fast. As of July 1, 2025, the Florida Supreme Court amended Rule 3.116, making it even easier for attorneys to use remote technology for short, non-evidentiary hearings (anything under 30 minutes). But for a plea or a sentencing? That’s where things get “insane.”

• The Fingerprint Hurdle: For “enhanceable offenses” like Petit Theft (F.S. 812.014), the law requires the State to have your fingerprints on the judgment. Why? Because your second petit theft is a more serious misdemeanor, and your third can be charged as a felony. Those prints are the State’s “paper trail” to lock you up longer next time.
• The Physicality Problem: Many judges in Orange and Seminole County refuse to take a plea over Zoom because they can’t take your prints through a monitor. It’s “sad but true” that you might have to drive to the courthouse just to put ink on a card for a ten-minute hearing.
• The Video Waiver: If your judge is progressive enough to allow a virtual plea, you must sign a Video Waiver. Without this document, your plea could be attacked later as being involuntary. You are essentially telling the court, “I know I have a right to be there in person, but I’m choosing the screen instead.”
• Current Statistics: A 2025 study on state court trends shows that approximately 70% of court hearings now utilize some form of hybrid or remote technology. However, when it comes to pleas and sentencings, that number drops significantly due to the fingerprinting requirements under F.S. 943.051.

John’s Takeaways

• Pretrials are Virtual-Friendly: If you’re just checking in for a status update, you probably don’t need to fight traffic to get to the courthouse. Most judges in the 5th DCA (Orange, Seminole, Volusia) are fine with Teams or phone calls for these.
• The Plea Dilemma: If your charge is “enhanceable” (like theft or certain batteries), expect the judge to demand a physical appearance. Fingerprints are the “smoking gun” the State needs for your future record.
• Waivers are Mandatory: Never “blab” a plea into a camera without your lawyer having filed that Video Waiver first. It’s your insurance policy against the system claiming you didn’t understand your rights.
• Check the Judge: Every judge from Lake to Brevard has their own “trigger finger” for virtual court. Some are tech-savvy; others still want to see the “whites of your eyes” in person.
• Failure of Proof: If the State takes a virtual plea but fails to get your prints on a card within 30 days, we may have a “failure of proof” argument if they try to upgrade a future charge.

The justice system is harsh, and while Zoom makes it easier to attend court, it doesn’t change the stakes. Whether you are in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, or Volusia County, you need to know if your virtual appearance is actually protecting your rights or just making it easier for the State to convict you.

I’ve been navigating Central Florida courtrooms since 1993, from the era of big cameras to the era of big data. If you’re facing a plea and want to know if you can stay home or if you need to be in the trenches, give me a call.

Facing a court date? Call John at (407) 423-1117.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.