Many courtrooms today are set up with nearly everything you’ll
need to simply plug in to the system and present your evidence. Judges
generally encourage and appreciate the use of technology, since it tends to
speed up the trial process, and has the added benefit of making the evidence
easier to follow and understand for the jury. Although it is sometimes assumed
that jurors will think electronic trial presentation looks too flashy, or that your client has spent a lot of money, post-trial
surveys prove that this is not the case.
Projector
A popular article I’ve written covers one simple item: Best
Projectors for Courtroom Presentations. I discussed there that you would
need a minimum of 3000 lumens in a well-lit courtroom, and that you should
avoid anything with DLP technology, since it will turn your nice yellow
document highlighting to a pea-soup green color. There is no point in using
inferior equipment when the exhibits cannot be clearly viewed by the entire
jury.
Another issue today would be whether to purchase a
wide-screen or standard projector. Although it would appear that the
wide-screen, or 16:9 format already dominates the television market, it’s not
quite there when it comes to available screens. Most screens you’ll find are
standard (or 4:3) format, meaning you’ll end up with a blank band on top of and
below your exhibits. Fortunately, there are some models that will accommodate either.
I would recommend considering one of those.
Also, you might want to consider a short-throw lens. Some
projectors come with them, and some have optional extra lenses which may be
used. The benefit here is that the projector may be placed only a few feet from
the screen, making it less likely that you will continually be walking between
the screen and projector. Although you probably won’t notice when part of the image
is on your suit, others will, and it is very distracting.
Screen
Many courtrooms have a screen installed. Some are large
enough, and some were apparently installed by the lowest bidder, regardless of
size. Generally, you’ll want at least a 7 or 8 foot screen in a courtroom. One
model I like is the InstaTheater, by DaLite. It stores in a tube, and does not
require a tripod, so it fits well in a congested courtroom. It may also be
placed on top of a table, if necessary.
Large Plasma or LCD
Monitors
Another option you will find installed in some courtrooms is
a large monitor, instead of a projector and screen. While they may be adequate
for watching the news, sports, or movies at home, when you consider that they
are only about half as large as a standard screen, you will likely find that
they’re not really the ideal solution for trial presentation to a large
audience. You can use more than one, but you also lose the effect of having one
common focal point for all to view, and you can forget about using a laser
pointer on it. Some cases require the color and clarity that only this type of
monitor can provide.
Individual Monitors
You may want to install separate monitors for the Judge,
witness, and each counsel table. This will allow everyone to view an exhibit
right in front of them, which is necessary in some courtrooms, where not
everyone will have a clear view of the screen. The added benefit is that this
system may be used to preview evidence before it has been admitted into
evidence, leaving the projector off. Once an exhibit has been admitted, the
projector is then turned on for the jury.
Audio System
Don’t forget this critical detail if you have anything that
you want others to hear. One example that is frequently overlooked is the
videotaped deposition. Unless you have a decent speaker set connected, nobody
will hear the audio from your laptop.
Switcher
In order to control which party has access to the courtroom
system, some sort of switching device must be installed. A matrix switch or
switchable distribution amplifier may be used for this purpose. Some judges
will also want their own “kill switch,” in order that they might disable the
projector, if necessary, although this was more common several years ago, when
the use of technology was new and untested.
Gaffer’s Tape
Don’t even dream about using anything but professional
gaffer’s tape to secure all of your electrical, video, and audio cables. Gaffer’s
tape is designed to not leave any residue, nor to pull the fabric from the
court’s carpeting. Duct tape will certainly hold the cables in place, but you
might find yourself replacing the carpeting if you try using it.
Equipment Rental or
Purchase
Most Trial Presentation Consulting firms have all of this
available, which means that you don’t have to ship the equipment, install the
system in the courtroom, tape cables, and make sure that everything is in good
working order. You can also purchase and handle of this yourself, if you’re
so-inclined. No matter whether you rent or purchase, make sure you install and
test it before trial. You and your client do not want the Judge to tell you that
if you can’t make it work, you’ll not be able to use it.
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