How to show good cause not to appear in person for pretrial hearing?
In an endorsed order, the district judge presiding over my case, which is now in discovery, said I must show good cause not to appear at certain, unspecified pretrial hearings in person rather than by phone. I live outside the U.S., thousands of miles from the NY courthouse. Because of my size and problems with my legs, which make long-distance, economy-seat flights painful, I would have to pay thousands of dollars for a business-class seat and NYC lodging to reach the court. The judge's initial written comment, repeated at the phone-based initial pretrial conference, came after one of my letters to the court had mentioned that I can attend any trial in person, but not hearings. As a reason for the requirement of in-person attendance, the judge's order also said that, because I had chosen to prosecute the case in that jurisdiction, I would have to be prepared to go the district in advance of trial. Actually, there is no other courthouse where I could have brought the surviving claims.
I asked the pro-se office's clerk why the judge would say this but the clerk was surprised and had no idea. I'm willing to make one trip, even if it entails staying days or weeks before and after, if and when the judge sets a firm trial date. However, I don't understand why the judge might want to force me to make multiple, costly journeys. Any thoughts or suggestions? Would a description of the cost in money and time be sufficient for me to "show good cause"? Even the court's own documents say that, for mediation, which I do not want, any party more than 100 miles from the courthouse can participate by phone.