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2.7. Computer support for judges


The ABA's minimum standards judicial workstation


The American Bar Association's Technology and the Future of the Courts
Committee published in February 1993 the fourth revision of its Guidelines and
Recommendations Relating to Computer Support for Judges (ABA Computer Support
for Judges Guidelines (1993)). The Committee's recommendations were as
follows:

   1.1  Recommended Hardware for a Trial Judge
   
   A trial judge should have access in his or her chambers to:
   (a)  a micro computer, and if on an MS-DOS system, a computer with at
   least an upgradable 80386 chip and preferably a more powerful machine;
   if on Apple system, the Mac II series;
   (b)  an 80 megabyte hard disk -- 120 megabyte, preferably, for prolific
   users;
   (c)  4 megabyte of RAM, at the least;
   (d)  a floppy disk drive, preferably both a 3.5" (1.44mg.) and a 5.25"
   (1.44mg.) floppy disk drive;
   (e)  a Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) card; and preferably a color
   monitor;
   (f)  a 9600 baud modem (Hayes compatible), and a FAX capability if
   there is not a FAX machine readily available;
   (g)  access to the court system's central computer, through modem or
   by a card with hard wiring to the system, or through a Local Area
   Network (LAN) connection;
   (h)  a laser printer, and if the laser printer is being shared and is
   not located in the judge's chambers, also a dot matrix or ink jet
   printer; print speed for a shared laser printer should be no less than
   8 pages per minute; and
   (i)  office computers or terminals to provide access for both he judge
   and the judicial staff, and portable or home-use computers for those
   judges who will take advantage of them.

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