Three Ways Technology Is Revolutionizing the Courtroom
As society continues to progress on the fast track to the future, the different branches are bound to pick up the pace. This can include the various economic industries that are beginning to introduce technologies into their day-to-day operations, which are proving to be efficient and cost-effective at the same time.
Modern technology is revolutionizing the entire world as people know it, and there are no signs of it stopping anytime soon. It’s still a far cry from the predictions created by science fiction authors in the mid-1900s about how the human race will soon be controlled by a robotic overlord, but there’s no telling what can happen in the future.
Besides, the changes to society brought about by modern technology aren’t all bad. If anything, its mere presence is becoming a necessity in the fields of medicine, education, or even the law because of all the advantages that it brings to make progress and development more efficient.
Take, for instance, these technological improvements to the courtroom setup and how lawyers conduct legal procedures. One might think that those involved with the law would automatically be old-fashioned because they follow the stringent provisions in the constitution, but technology has started to create changes inside the court as well. Here’s how:
Videoconferencing Technology
There was a time when the concerned parties needed to show up at court to provide their witness testimonies until depositions became the norm. Witnesses could take part in a deposition to give a sworn out-of-court testimony instead of having to stand trial inside the courtroom.
But this could quickly accumulate expenses not only for the witnesses but also for the attorneys who have to travel to the place where the deposition will be held. Fortunately, the presence of modern technology has made it possible to conduct remote depositions through videoconferencing.
There would be court reporters present during the session who would handle the setup of the software solution to be used and produce accurate transcripts for the clients. And because the entire procedure can be done remotely, you can use any mobile device from anywhere in the world, so long as you have a stable internet connection.
Electronic Evidence Presentations
When presenting evidence in the courtroom, the norm would be to submit physical and printed copies of the materials, which will then be disseminated to the court reporter, opposing counsel, and other concerned parties. This method can rack up expenses because the copies have to be reproduced multiple times.
Aside from the expenses, the materials would also require bigger storage space and effort to transport, even before they can be presented in court. But with modern technology, evidence presentations can now be done electronically using digital exhibition software.
Attorneys would no longer have to carry around big boxes of evidence and binders of paperwork, especially since everything they would need can fit inside their devices. This innovation can make it easier for the presenters to disseminate their materials to all the concerned parties without risking the possibility of losing, damaging, or mishandling the documents.
Augmented Reality (AR) Technology
With all the innovations in the market today, it’s unsurprising that augmented reality (AR) technology is slowly making its way into the limelight—even in the legal community. AR technology has the power to superimpose 3-D renderings in a real-world environment, which can make holograms a reality.
This innovation can become a game-changer for victims who may not be comfortable enough to testify in person during a trial. But through AR testimonies, these victims’ holograms can appear in court to provide their statements without having to feel violated or vulnerably exposed in front of the people.
AR testimonies are a great alternative to videoconferencing, particularly because they are likely to elicit sympathy or belief from the jury in that manner. However, through the holographic appearance of the witness, they could increase their chances of gaining sympathy or the trust of the jury.
Of course, the latest technologies may still take some getting used to, especially in an environment as tense as a courtroom. Any issues that can disqualify a piece of evidence and testimony can make or break a case, which is why lawyers must have a good command of the technology they are going to use if they want it to strengthen their case.
These three innovations to the existing legal processes are only the dawn of the digital age. The world is changing at an unprecedented rate thanks to modern technology. Despite having both advantages and disadvantages, there is no discounting the benefits that technology is bringing inside the courtrooms.
