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glossary. The same problems can arise when one term in a glossary     [PP101]
depends for its meaning on other terms found in the glossary (ie
definitions are 'nested').

If a jury is to be provided with access to transcript or statements in
computerised form (see Chapter 6), then it is possible to overcome all of
these limitations (with appropriate software) by the use of hypertext.
Hypertext is, in essence, computerised cross referencing which provides
instant access to the text which forms the cross reference. Properly
implemented, it would mean that any term which was explained in the glossary
would appear underlined (or highlit in some fashion) wherever it appeared in
the text of the transcript or statement. The reader would use a mouse or some
similar device to select such a term and the glossary entry would be displayed
on screen, possibly in a window over or beside the text being read. The
glossary entries would also be in hypertext form, to cater for nested
definitions. Findlay (1991) recommends that juries be provided with 'a
computerised presentation of transcripts with cross-referencing, and where
possible "hyper-text" enhancement'.

If hypertext facilities are not available, it may still be valuable for the
jury to be given a glossary in a database form, so that if a term is typed in,
an explanation of it is retrieved. Unless this was done very well, it would
not be worth the effort. A computerised glossary cannot be used in this way
with exhibits in image form, because they are not stored as text.

The evidentiary reforms discussed in the following section of this Chapter
include recommendations which are broad enough to cover the provision of such
glossaries to the jury. The United Kingdom Criminal Justice Act 1988 s31
allows for Crown Court Rules which could require parties to prepare
glossaries, but no such rules have yet been made: Aronson (1992) p75.



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