LANSING DISTRICT JUDGE'S COURTROOM

The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has recently installed one of the most technologically advanced electronic evidence presentation systems in the country in the District Judge's courtroom in Lansing, Michigan.

This evidence presentation system will allow for the display of evidence throughout the courtroom on various monitors located at the bench, the witness stand, the evidence presentation cart, the jury box, the counsel tables and the gallery. This innovative technology will eliminate the cumbersome process of handling paper evidence.

A reference guide has been prepared by the court. The guide is not intended to be a complete training package. Counsel planning to use the equipment are encouraged to contact court staff well in advance of their court proceeding to inquire about training and practice sessions. Practice sessions and testing of the equipment must occur prior to the day of a scheduled court appearance, as the courtroom and court staff will not be available for that purpose on the day of the proceeding.

The Court strongly encourages counsel to take advantage of the benefits of this equipment.

Please contact us to arrange for a training or orientation session by email at:  Courtroom Technology Information.

The courtroom contains the following hi-tech equipment:

• Evidence Presentation Cart, containing:

  • Evidence Camera

  • Annotation Monitor

  • Microphone

  • Control Panel

  • VCR

  • Auxiliary Connections

• Counsel Tables, containing:

  • Two Monitors

  • Two Microphones

  • PC Connection

  • Auxiliary Connections

  • Internet Access (upon request)

  • Realtime Court Reporting Connection

• Lectern. The lectern is mobile and height-adjustable. It is equipped with work space and a microphone.

• Witness Stand. The witness stand is equipped with:

  • Annotation Monitor

  • Evidence Camera

  • Microphone

  • PC Connection

  • Auxiliary Connections

• Jury Box/Plasma Screen. A 50" retractable plasma screen over the jury box can be lowered when needed.

• Gallery. Two monitors are located on the sides of the gallery to allow spectators to see evidence being presented during a court proceeding.

• Side Camera. A side camera is located near the ceiling above the jury box. It is used to display demonstrative exhibits which may be placed on a tripod easel in front of the jury box or by the witness stand. Use of the side camera allows the judge, the witness, the jury, all counsel and those seated in the gallery to view the exhibit with ease.

• Hearing Assistance System. Wireless headphones are available for use by the hearing impaired, or for language interpretation.

• Two cordless hand-held microphones and two cordless lapel microphones are available.
   

• A color video printer is available in the courtroom should counsel wish to print a displayed image for admission into evidence.
   

• Evidence Presentation Software. To make effective use of the evidence presentation system, counsel may want to consider purchasing a presentation software package. The court does not endorse any particular software package, but offers the following information for your reference.
   

  • Publishing/Graphic Software

  • Evidence Presentation Software

   

• Realtime Court Reporting. Realtime court reporting is available at Counsel Tables. To learn more about viewer annotation software, you may wish to refer to the following website: http://www.stenograph.com
   

• The court has prepared a checklist for counsel’s reference when considering use of the electronic evidence presentation system.

Send an e-mail to:  Courtroom Technology Information