Over the past ten years, the technology being used in litigation has changed considerably. Modern technology has been able to transform the way the court process works. In essence, the current technology offers a wide array of features such as artificial intelligence, autonomous capability, machine learning, virtual reality and many more. Additionally, there is technological equipment which is assigned to courtrooms when the need arises or those that are actually installed in the courtrooms. In this regard, lawyers, judges, and other court staff are required to be conversant with the basic levels of technology which are in most cases used during evidence presentation, opening statements and even closing arguments in the situations of criminal, administrative and civil proceedings.
Interest in the use of technology in the courtrooms has grown considerably over the past several years. Traditional litigators and judges who were skeptical of the technological advances were slow in embracing the use of technology in court proceedings. In one way or the other, through time, the adoption of modern technology in the courtroom has been gradually accepted due to the benefits that it has provided.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Technological Equipment in the Courtroom
Video Displays
There has been the initiation of big screen monitors where all eyes in the courtroom can be directed. However, this has faced criticism where there is as well the preference of smaller individual monitors which are installed for use in the jury box. An advantage presented by the larger monitors is that there is increased eye contact with the presenters and the attention of the jury is focused on the images on the monitor (Macdonald & Wallace, 2004). On the other hand, with personal small monitors, there is perceived a loss of connection between the jurors and the presenters. Video displays in the courtroom are presented on a screen with a liquid crystal display projector.
Annotation Monitors
This is a form of technology where witnesses are able to mark exhibits with notations which therein can be used later for viewing and references. These markings, for example, can indicate the point where an individual was standing in the area shown by the picture or where an event took place as critical to the evidence presented therein. After notations are made on the picture, markings can then be added to the same to show the witnesses who were responsible for the notations. All of these can be preserved by printing a copy of the exhibit preferably in color form. This comes in handy when the next witness appears and they are presented with an original copy of the same free from markings and notations.
Witness Monitor
In some courtrooms, witnesses have their own monitor which again should have the annotation feature allowing the witness to outline markings which are then displayed electronically on the image. The witness monitor, in this case, allows evidence presented to the witness and this cannot be viewed by the jury. The essence is to elicit testimony with regard to how authentic and relevant the evidence might be (Lanzara & Patriotta, 2001). In the event that the exhibit is moved to evidence, then the same will be displayed to other monitors in the courtroom for the jury to view as well.
Evidence Camera
This is one indispensable for a technology-oriented courtroom. Basically, there is no other equipment comparable to this due to its ability to motivate litigants towards the use of technology in court proceedings. Evidence cameras have the ability to instantly convert paper documents or even physical exhibits into electronic images. They can as well enlarge or reduce the images as required by the audience. Further, the evidence camera has the ability to for example enlarge a four by six photograph to be seen by all in the courtroom monitors and form of a projection on the screens therein.
Laptop Connections and other Digital Input Locations
There is a necessity for laptop inputs to the image and audio display systems in the courtroom. This is due to the popularity of laptop computers in the presentation of evidence. In a typical courtroom, there is usually inputs such as image and audio connections which are placed on the tables of litigants usually two, a set of image and audio inputs placed on the speaker’s lectern. Such configurations allow for opposing sides to have input locations and a spare just in case another is needed.
In conclusion, technology is disrupting the way court proceedings are being conducted. The justice sector is prime for technological disruptions and the innovations therein enable the efficient dispensation of justice as required. Technology is a tool which is used in the courtroom to ease the burden on court clerks, witnesses, judges, and advocates as they make crucial decisions. Technological innovations in the courtroom, therefore, allow and stimulate the existence of basic rights such as fairness, equality, justice as well as openness. The courtroom needs technological transformation for better access, participation, and efficiency.
References
Macdonald, R., & Wallace, A. (2004). Review of the extent of courtroom technology in Australia. William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal , 12 (3), 649.
Lanzara, G. F., & Patriotta, G. (2001). Technology and the courtroom: An inquiry into knowledge making in organizations. Journal of Management Studies , 38 (7), 943-971.
