Courts are adopting courtroom technology, including two-way video conferencing, audio and video recording, document cameras, touchscreen laptops, and pink noise systems, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in trials. These technologies allow for remote witnesses, easier evidence presentation, and private discussions.
Courts in a variety of jurisdictions are starting to incorporate courtroom technology into the standard courtroom setup. That means different things in different places and different things from year to year as advances in technology create new possibilities. As courtroom technology begins to replace easel viewing of documents, photographs and sketches, many experts agree that courtroom technology is both efficient and effective for certain tasks and situations that arise throughout many trials.
One type of courtroom technology is two-way video conferencing equipment and software, known in Scotland as Vulnerable/Remote Witness Equipment. This technology enables interaction with witnesses who, for safety, scheduling, health, or expense reasons, must testify from a location outside the courtroom. This equipment can make it possible for expert witnesses and others to appear who might otherwise find it prohibitive to participate in a trial.
Audio and video recording equipment creates a record of the process that doesn’t require a stenographer. Beyond that, it also provides a more complete complement of process documentation. Unlike methods that don’t use courtroom technology, it becomes easier and cheaper for any number of people to review the trial or evidence at the same time.
Document cameras, or viewers, are capable of showing three-dimensional objects projected onto one or more screens so that they can be closely examined by large numbers of people and then the images can be recorded digitally. The zoom function allows the document camera to work like a microscope to capture more detail when needed. Images from the document camera can be projected onto a large projection screen for everyone in the classroom to view. Alternatively, each juror may have an LCD flat screen to view the evidence.
Attorneys can use touchscreen laptops to present and annotate evidence. This is also reported to make pre-trial preparation easier. A chalkboard placed at the back of the witness stand can make it easy for the witness to use courtroom technology to draw or write on the projected image to prove a point or clarify a description. Another form of courtroom technology is a system that creates pink noise during private discussions in the sidebar to ensure that the jury cannot hear or be influenced by these discussions between the judge and the attorneys.
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