E-Courtrooms or Technology in the Courtroom By Caitlin Donahoe

Contents  Why do you care?  Where are E-Courtrooms?  What are E-Courtrooms?  Layout of the E-Courtroom  Technology  What are the benefits of an E-Courtroom?  Conclusion  Works Cited

Why do you care?  E-Courtrooms…  Keep the jury’s attention using interactive presentations.  Make it easier to show and explain evidence.  Cut trial time by 25 percent.  Assist the jury in reaching an informed verdict.  Enhance public participation in the jury system. “We the jury, whose selection was based on our lack of knowledge, find the evidence makes us sleepy, so we flipped a coin and want to get home before our favorite soaps come on.”

Where are E-Courtrooms?  Maricopa County Superior Court  United States District Court -- Phoenix  Sherburne County, Minnesota  Ireland  Travis County, Texas

Clerk and Bailiff stations Judge’s Bench Lectern Counsel Tables

The Technology  JAVS (Jefferson Audio Visual System)  Digital audio and video recording  Analog (VHS) recording backup  Infrared (wireless) sound system  DVR  Exhibit One (evidence presentation system)  Monitors – jury, attorneys and gallery  Laptop inputs  Document Camera  VHS player  Capture printer

Technology In Maricopa County Superior Court Jury box with flat screen monitors built into the railing. Visitor’s Gallery with two 35” monitors and JAVS playback monitor and VCR

More Technology Bailiff’s ICIS Computer Capture Printer JAVS Computer Flat touch- screen monitor for the witness Flat touch-screen for attorneys Infrared audio system for hearing impaired

Judge’s Bench and Chambers Exhibit One Monitor JAVS Monitor and Control Unit Judge’s Laptop Judge has camera and microphone in chambers to record proceedings. Judge has television monitor and can see what happens in courtroom from chambers. Judge has computer to view scanned documents, , word processing Exhibit One Control

Some more Technology Four VHS Recording Units DVR Unit Document camera/ Elmo VHS Tape Player “Switcher”- allows presenter to switch output source between laptop, VHS tape player and Elmo (document camera) 12” Touch-screen Monitor & Laptop Port

What are the Benefits of an E-Courtroom?  Increased Accuracy  Audio and visual equipment  No court reporter – proceedings digitally recorded.  Cameras record exactly what happens in the courtroom.  More Efficient and Informative  Jurors able to be shown evidence up close and in detail.  Lawyers able to keep juror’s attention and make their case more like a story.  Video conferencing and videotaped depositions for witnesses who can’t appear.  Community Benefits  Hearing impaired able to serve on jury.  Better justice.

Conclusion  Marriage of technology and the law = E-courtroom  Cost savings  Trials go faster  More efficient use of court reporters  Enhanced juror satisfaction  Enhanced justice  Exciting, revolutionary technology in the courtroom.

Works Cited  E-Courtroom  /ecourtroom/index.asp /ecourtroom/index.asp /ecourtroom/index.asp  Interview  With Hon. Gary Donahoe, Judge of the Superior Court, who presided over an E- Courtroom.

Thank You for Your Attention (Which I would not have had if not for PowerPoint.)