👉 In the context of legal proceedings, a "proctored" or "procedural" hearing is when both the witness and the judge are present in court. This means that the judge may ask questions directly from the witness while they remain silent, which can be particularly useful for certain types of evidence or testimony. Procedural hearings are typically conducted before an impartial third party, such as a lawyer, to ensure that all parties have access to the facts and understand their rights and obligations.