1. Civil Litigation:
Process and Procedures
Chapter Eighteen
The Electronic Courtroom and Trial Presentation

2. The Electronic Courtroom
 Equipped to
 Present videotaped depositions
 Present evidence on monitors
 Jury
 Judge
 Counsel tables
 Court support personnel
 Spectators
Civil Litigation: Process and Procedures © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
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3. Litigation Support Software
 Organizes & displays
 Evidence
 Graphic presentations
 Simulations or reenactments
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4. The Wired Courtroom
 Must determine in advance of trial
 Court & judge rules
 Wiring, internet access & equipment already
available
 Placement of mics, location of operator
 Compatibility of courtroom equipment with
legal team’s software
 Procedures for bringing outside equipment
into the courtroom
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5. Advanced
Courtroom
Layout
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6. Litigation
Presentation Programs
 Software that provides a comprehensive
approach to presenting
 Documents
 Photographs
 Graphic images
 Video presentations
 Recorded depositions
 Databases, most using Windows
Civil Litigation: Process and Procedures © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
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7. Sanction Dual Monitor Mode
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8. Presentation
and Trial Graphics
 Poorly designed graphics can detract
from the “message,” or even mislead
 Presentation programs are flexible and
can prepare slide shows or hard copy
 Graphics & photographs
 Video & audio clips
 Animation & sound effects
 Data charts
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9. Electronic Graphic Creation
 Must be able to be clearly seen by everyone
 Can use graphics programs that offer
templates for common trial graphics
 Can be used in the courtroom to create
professional-looking material “on the fly”
 Can keep back-up on a laptop in case display
boards or posters are delayed or damaged
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10. Typical Trial Graphics
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11. Accident
Scene
Graphic
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12. Benefits of PowerPoint
 Can prepares  Graphics (photos,
presentations in charts, clipart) are
different formats easily incorporated
 Tutorials are available with “drag & drop”
online and help within mouse clicking
the program
 Sounds & animation
A variety of templates &

may add interest
content slides are
available  Compatible with
Office Suite
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13. Presentation Tips
 Viewability – colors & contrast enhance the
message, not detract from it
 Density – use of bullets & phrases instead of
paragraphs
 Sounds – should not be startling, but rather subtly
create interest
 Stand aside – be sure not to block the screen
 Imagery – graphics can enhance text, clarify a
concept
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14. SmartDraw
 Graphics creation program
 Includes
 Icons & templates
 An intuitive interface
 Predesigned legal situation graphics
 “Drop & drag” click insertion
 Graphics can be exported to a variety of
other programs, e.g., PowerPoint or Word
Civil Litigation: Process and Procedures © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
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15. Export Tab
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16. Electronic Trial
Presentation Programs
 Allow the legal team to
 Organize & control the
 Documentary evidence
 Depositions
 Photographs and other data
 Display transcript & video simultaneously
 The team must be aware of the types of
native formats supported by the
presentation program
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All Rights Reserved.
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17. Limitations
 Must have correct equipment available
 Must anticipate technical difficulties
 Back-up programs
 Hard copies of vital evidence
 Can be very expensive, and may not be
justified in a cost/benefit analysis
 If new or different equipment is required
 If experts must be consulted
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All Rights Reserved.
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18. Video Viewing
 Monitors may be placed around the
courtroom, on carts
 A single large screen may be used,
requiring a projector
 Individual monitors may be installed
between every other juror
 Size & proximity must be taken into
account when preparing graphics
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19. Media Center or Cart
 Annotation monitor – permits on-screen notes
with the touch of a finger
 Document camera – displays a live image of
documentary or 3-dimensional evidence, with zoom
capacity
 Infrared headphones – assisted listening device
 Laptop port – at the counsel tables
 Interpreter box – permits translations from an
interpreter
 VCR & dual cassette player – permits audio &
visual playback
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All Rights Reserved.
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20. Presentation Preparation
 Research the courtroom electronic
capacity, meet with court IT staff
 Run-through with attorney
 Practice in courtroom, if possible
 Have backup equipment, files, cables
 Use a separate operator, often the
paralegal
 Be sure to have the necessary passwords
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21. Courthouse IT Staff
 Can help make the process easier
 Knows the capacity of the courtrooms
 Can solve problems in a run-through
 May be helpful in getting equipment
through security
 May even be able to “pre-clear” it
 Can help with emergency repairs,
replacements (bulbs, bad monitors, etc.)
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22. Electronic
Courtroom Overview
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