NCJ Number
46827
Journal
American Bar Association Journal Volume: 63 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 1713-1716
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF PICTUREPHONE SERVICE OR CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION, ALREADY USED EXPERIMENTALLY IN ACTUAL COURT TRIALS, IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN THE FUTURE.
Abstract
AN ACTUAL APPELLATE CASE, IN WHICH THE PRESIDING JUDGES SAT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND COUNSEL SAT IN NEW YORK CITY, DEMONSTRATED THE EFFICACY AND UTILITY OF THE EXPERIMENT TO BOTH SIDES AND TO OBSERVERS FROM LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS. BOTH AUDIO AND VISUAL QUALITY WERE SATISFACTORY. AN EARLIER USE OF THE TELEVISED TESTIMONY OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST AT A CRIMINAL TRIAL WAS UPHELD BY THE MISSOURI SUPREME COURT UPON APPEAL BY THE CONVICTED DEFENDANT. ANOTHER EXPERIMENT SUCCESSFULLY USED SATELLITE TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT REQUIRING ANY SPECIAL INSTALLATION OF WIRE OR CABLE BETWEEN TWO SITES. ADVANTAGES OF THESE COURTROOM TELECOMMUICATIONS ARE POSSIBLE GREATER EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS IN LAWYER'S TIME AND TRAVEL EXPENSES; IN ADDITION, AN EXPERT WITNESS COULD APPEAR IN TWO CASES MANY MILES DISTANT IN THE SAME DAY. BECAUSE OF SUCH ELECTRONIC BREAKTHROUGHS, TRAVEL MAY BECOME LESS NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE AND PEOPLE MAY BECOME LESS CITY-DEPENDENT. NOW IS THE TIME TO START PLANNING FOR ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY IN THE SERVICE OF THE LEGAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. (DJM)