Free The Electronic Courtroom - Pennsylvania

United States District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania

The Electronic Courtroom
Courtroom 2
The William J. Nealon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Scranton, Pennsylvania

THOMAS I. VANASKIE CHIEF JUDGE

MARY E. D'ANDREA CLERK OF COURT

T

he United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania opened its first fully electronic courtroom, Courtroom 2, in April of 1999 in the William J. Nealon Federal Building in Scranton.

Courtroom 2 uses the latest advanced technology to facilitate the presentation of both testimony and evidence to the court, including a state-of-the-art sound system and an infrared assistive listening device system.

Additionally, video monitors are strategically placed around the courtroom. The judge, the witness, the courtroom deputy, and each of the counsel tables have a video monitor for the display of evidence.The jury box has four 17" monitors in the front row, one monitor placed between every two juror chairs.The back row has four 15" flat panel monitors in a similar arrangement. There is also a 37" monitor just inside the well of the court, so those in the gallery may view evidence displayed through the system.

A

t the heart of the electronic courtroom is the visual presentation cart, centrally located between the four counsel tables, which contains most of the presentation electronics.

The Visual Presentation Cart
The visual presentation cart gives counsel the ability to present evidence in multiple media formats. It contains the following devices: ELMO evidence presentation equipment enables counsel to present evidence through the video monitors. The evidence can be in virtually any medium: paper documents, photographs, negatives, xrays, and even three dimensional objects. The Elmo is not limited to Courtroom 2. Portable Elmo units are available in any courtroom. If you feel an Elmo unit would benefit your case, speak to your Judge's Courtroom Deputy to arrange for one to be made available to you. Video Cassette Recorder allows playback of videotaped evidence and testimony through the video monitors. The VCR's freeze-frame feature allows the operator to freeze an image or slowly advance one frame at a time through a key video sequence. Annotation tablet with video marker lets counsel draw on, point to, and highlight any evidence or document that is being displayed through the system. Counsel may also use the video system as a blank whiteboard to draw or write on a blank screen. Computer Connections allow counsel to present trial documents and/or evidence through the video system by way of audio and video connections to a notebook computer. Color Video Printer allows counsel to print any still image displayed on the courtroom monitors, converting the image into an 8.5 x 11" color hard copy that may be entered into evidence.

Counsel Tables
Each counsel table provides a recessed monitor for viewing presented video evidence. Each table is also equipped with a microphone as well as power, telephone, and computer connections. Counsel can hook up their own computers and use PowerPoint, or their own evidence display technology. The advanced counsel tables also provide modem connections to allow counsel to dial into networks outside of the courthouse, or perform legal research.

Witness Stand
The witness stand is fitted with a 14" LCD Touch-Monitor which allows the witness to both view and annotate any evidence presented on the system. Witnesses may point at, highlight, and draw over any evidence by simply drawing on the screen with his or her finger. Additionally, the witness stand is the focal point of a 3-CCD overhead document camera, which allows the court to see any documents, photographs, or three dimensional evidence presented to a witness.

Video Teleconferencing Equipment
The courtroom is set up to use a V-Tel dual monitor video teleconferencing system to allow for testimony and distance meetings from remote locations. The teleconference may also be recorded for future reference using the V-Tel's VCR.

Digital Whiteboard
Also available to the court is a standard whiteboard equipped with a mimio infrared capture system which reproduces handwritten input from the whiteboard, allowing this information to be shared via the court's video system, or printed on paper to be entered into evidence.

The Judge's Bench
The Judge's Bench is the control center for all of the courtroom technology.

Here the A/V system is controlled by two touch panel controllers, one for the Clerk, the other on the Judge's bench. These touch panel controllers manage the audio and video systems in the courtroom.

It also controls the Witness overhead camera, all of the courtroom monitors, and the video sources from the counsel tables and the presentation cart. Using either touch panels, any or all of the evidence presentation system may be turned off if the judge determines that evidence should not be made available to the jury.

The Judge's Bench also features a 14" Flat Panel LCD monitor on which he or she may view the evidence presented by way of the video system, or preview any video source.

The Judge's bench is also equipped with a full mid-tower PC and a notebook computer connection. These systems enable the judge to take notes electronically, view real-time reporting, and conduct legal research. The Court Reporter's station is also equipped with a similar mid-tower PC for real-time transcription. Real-Time transcription is used to capture the courtroom record. At the present time, it is forwarded to the Judge's Bench only. The court is using Stenograph Corporation's Case View II software.

The Future
Courtroom 2 is already equipped with three additional recessed video camera pockets, anticipating the future video taping of court proceedings. The court is the process of installing digital recording technology, as well as investigating the technology to allow us to dial into remote language interpreter services from the courtroom.

Making Use of the Technology
Courtroom 2 is available for any trial in which the technology would benefit the presentation of evidence. If you would like to make use of this technology, you may request it with our Operations Manager, Kevin Calpin, at (570) 207-5601. It is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the equipment and practice using it before relying on it in court. Once a trial has been scheduled for Courtroom 2, you may arrange for time to work with the equipment by speaking with the assigned Judge's Courtroom Deputy.