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Efficiencies in presentation of evidence


If the cost of a complex trial while running is $20,000 per day, then it is
possible to justify a very substantial investment in information technology if
this is likely to cause any significant reduction in the length of the trial.
A reduction of a month in a very long trial would represent a saving of over a
quarter of a million dollars. This is particularly so in relation to that
percentage of the investment which constitutes capital costs (court wiring,
computers etc) rather than recurrent costs (court technology staff,
telecommunications costs, consumables etc). The capital investment will return
further savings in subsequent trials, at least for the normal period of
between three to five years until the equipment is obsolete.


Increased understanding of evidence by the jury


Facilities for the computerised display of transcript, or images of exhibits,
in court may make it easier for the jury to see and understand documents being
referred to. Presentation graphics and computer-generated summaries may
simplify and summarise complex evidence. Jury access to computerised
transcript, exhibit images or presentations after the jury retires may
increase jurors' ability to retrieve and analyse the evidence they have heard.


Increased understanding of the case by the judge


A judge, whether sitting alone or with a jury, may obtain the same benefits as
a jury, and may also be able to obtain all the benefits of the use of
litigation support software for case analysis as are available to prosecution
and defence.


Differing needs of participants in criminal trials


The benefits of the application of information technology to complex trials
differ markedly between judge, jury, prosecution and defence. The interests of
the public and the media in the openness of court proceedings are also
important. Some benefits, such as the availability of presentation and
communications facilities in courtrooms, or better availability of
computerised transcript, are of potential benefit to all participants. Others,
such as the use of litigation support facilities by the prosecution, are
obviously in a different category. The nature of a criminal trial is such
that, unless considerations of fairness to the defendant are kept well in
mind, sophisticated uses of information technology by the prosecution may not
be permitted by the Court, or will not be accepted by a jury.



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