@ Black Sheep, I was thinking that having it in a suit jacket pocket would hide the display... And for the ladies, maybe wearing a blazer and putting it the pocket. I wouldn't think layers of fabric would reveal the recorder. And if they ask if you have a TAPE recorder, you don't. All you have is a pen...it just so happens it records, but there's no TAPE involved.
I think maybe that's how that guy in the YouTube vids was justified. Everyone who was "pro-elder" that commented on his vids accused him of lying. Technically, he didn't. They asked if he had a TAPE RECORDER, and he produced one. They asked if he had another one, and he said no. If he had an ELECTRONIC recorder, then he wasn't lying.
As for having a friend present, usually you aren't allowed. It's a kangaroo court. Unless that person is a witness on your behalf (in other words, if they can provide you with an aliby if you've been accused of fornication, or if they can testify they've never heard you speak against the org, or if they're a witness to a case of pedophilia [highly unlikely]). Basically if the accused is a female and the "friend" is her husband, he is allowed because he is her head. As a matter of fact, usually they are demanded to be present. If it's a male, he doesn't have to have his wife present. But anyone else is not allowed. It's 3 men against YOU alone. This is why it's completely unfair. You're bombarded, intimidated, and alone. There is no one on your side to assist with your defense. They don't want witnesses to what goes on and how unfair they are and the fact they are NOT led by Holy Spirit, but their own small insignificant minds. If this were a criminal case (the way it's always treated as one), the accused could opt to be silent until they had their lawyer present. They could opt to have a witness or two in order to establish character as well as an aliby. But this is The Watchtower Corporation, not real life.
In one of my JC's, the vote had been 2 to 1 to DF me, but one of the elders made a strong case for me and convinced the others it wasn't the thing to do. Supposedly, a few days later one of them had remorse and told my ex they SHOULD have DF'ed me because I was not repentant (this was apparently "obvious" because I had a nose piercing and didn't take it out...I wore it to my JC, too...no one said a thing. It's a conscience matter anyway). So basically, this showed there was no Holy Spirit involved. It was the opinion and FEELINGS of 3 men that decided my fate...one of them was just more convincing in his argument for me. If someone can change their mind and express regret a few days later, that shows that it was THEIR mind to change, not Jehovah's. Now, if anyone outside the congregation found that out, it would "drag Jehovah's name through the mud". If anyone INSIDE the congregation found that out, there would be an uproar. Why do you think DF'ed ones cannot be spoken to? Because THEY know if they were repentant and especially if they were DF'ed for apostasy, no one wants them to be able to speak to the congregation.