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Courtroom Technology

 Electronic Courtrooms
 
 Milwaukee Courthouse
 517 East Wisconsin Avenue
 Milwaukee, WI 53202

     Judge Pamela Pepper - Room 222  

     Courtroom 320

Overview of Electronic Courtroom Capabilities

Users Guide to Electronic Courtrooms - Milwaukee

FEATURES OF THE ELECTRONIC COURTROOMS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

        A. DOCUMENT CAMERA
        B. ANNOTATION TABLE
        C. VIDEOTAPE PLAYER
        D. PERSONAL COMPUTER
        F. WIRELESS MICROPHONE

II. ATTORNEY TABLES

        A. MONITOR
 
        A. COURTROOM 320
        B. COURTROOM 222

V. JURY BOX

VI. PUBLIC VIEWING AREA

VII. COURTROOM CAMERAS

VIII. TELECONFERENCING

IX. VIDEOCONFERENCING

X. BENCH CONTROLS

 

I. PRESENTATION CART

Attorneys may use the Courtrooms’ evidence presentation cart to assist with their presentations. The cart has the following features:

A. Document Camera - The Elmo visual presenter can display documents and small objects on the Courtrooms’ video monitors. The camera can front light opaque documents, and back light transparencies. The Elmo is capable of inverting the contrast of images to enhance the view of photographic negatives.

B. Annotation Tablet - The annotation tablet is used to emphasize aspects of an attorney’s visual presentation. This annotation feature highlights selected portions of the image on the Courtroom display monitors. Electronic enhancement does not alter the original object, document, photograph, or electronic image. The annotation equipment works with the document camera and videotaped presentations.

C. Videotape Player - The videotape player can display prerecorded video/audio presentations. The tape player conforms to the VHS video standard.

D. Personal Computer - The presentation cart has an input port for SVGA computer displays and an audio input jack to broadcast through the courtrooms PA system. (The computer must be supplied by the litigant).

E. Audiocassette Player - Courtroom 222 has an available audiocassette tape player.

F. Wireless Microphone - Attorneys may use a court supplied, handheld wireless microphone if they require mobility during their presentation.

II. ATTORNEY TABLES

Each attorney table is fitted with a 15" LCD monitor. Tables in Courtroom 320 also have an audio speaker. An SVGA computer input port and an audio input jack are available in the well. This connection permits an aide to assist an attorney during a presentation. (The personal computer must be supplied by the litigant).

III. WITNESS BOX

A. Monitor - The witness box is provided with a touch screen video display monitor for viewing presentations. The touch screen monitor enables the witness to annotate displays in a similar fashion to the presentation cart annotation tablet used by the attorneys.

B. Overhead Document Camera - A court activated document camera is mounted above the witness box. This enables all participants to see a concurrent image of the document or object the witness is viewing.

IV. ASSISTED LISTENING

A. Courtroom 320 is fitted with a two channel, infrared assisted listening system. Channel one is used for foreign language translation. Channel two may be used by the hearing impaired. The court will provide compatible infrared headsets.

B. Courtroom 222 does not have a second channel for the hearing impaired.

V. JURY BOX

The Jury Box is fitted wtih six 15" LCD display monitors.

VI. PUBLIC VIEWING AREA

Evidence is displayed to the public area of the courtrooom on a 36" CRT monitor.

VII. COURTROOM CAMERAS

Courtroom cameras are installed at the front and rear of the courtroom. An exhibit camera is located above the witness box. These cameras are controlled by the Judge and Courtroom Deputy. The room cameras have pan, zoom, and tilt capabilities. The witness box camera has zoom control only.

VIII. TELECONFERENCING

The courtroom teleconferencing system is capable of linking up to six separate participant locations (including the Court).

IX. VIDEOCONFERENCING

Videoconferencing is available in full motion video. The court uses a three BRI, six channel, ISDN communications link. The combined throughput of the system is 384K. The videoconferencing system will connect with one remote location at a time.

X. BENCH CONTROLS

The Judge and Courtroom Deputy have the ability to control all aspects of the electronic presentation system. The bench can select the video source and volume control of the presentation system at all times. With Judicial approval, the Courtroom Deputy can make three by five inch color prints of the video display, complete with annotations.

The Judge has the ability to view an image privately, to rule on the admissibility of an exhibit, before it is displayed to the jury and courtroom.

The Judge may activate a pink noise generator in the Jury Box to obscure speech
during sidebars.