Attorneys, judges, staff, and jurors are experiencing state−of−the−art presentation technology during trials at the Waukesha County Circuit Courts in Wisconsin.  With the court’s newly installed audio/video presentation systems, attorneys can present evidence in a variety of ways, conduct videoconferencing calls during hearings and annotate over any displayed materials during case presentation and witness testimony.

Thanks to professional audio/video installer ExhibitOne, of Phoenix, Arizona, each of Waukesha County’s 17 courtrooms has a specially designed and integrated AV system that enhances courtroom proceedings.  The selection of presentation sources and the audio and video quality are managed by Kramer Electronics products.  According to Kevin Sanders, director of technical services at ExhibitOne, Kramer is the “go−to” product line when the company is installing presentation carts.  “We recommended Kramer products based on identified court needs, the pricing constraints and the assortment of products available from Kramer that fit the needs of this client,” Sanders said.   “We always take the best product for the system, and in this case, Kramer was the best choice.”

Each courtroom has a projection display for courtroom depositions, video monitors and large screen monitors for evidence viewing, and an evidence cart that houses a document camera, DVD player and also supplies multi−device connectivity for use by the attorneys.  Lawyers can bring their own laptops or similar tablet devices and hook them into the AV presentation system. 

To take the uncertainty out of tapping into a central AV system, court staff prepared an extensive on−line system guide booklet which is helpful to both attorneys who are technically savvy and those who have less experience with electronics.   For example, it provides guidance on CD/DVD media, connections needed for various laptops and related electronic devices, and procedures for videoconferencing calls.   It also enumerates the various tools and input methods attorneys can use to present evidence:  document camera, DVD player (composite input), laptop or tablet device (VGA w/audio) and HDMI. 

Each of the courtrooms has a Kramer VP−420 ProScale™ digital scaler for computer graphics video and HDTV signals.  The scaler scales the input to a selectable computer graphics video or HDTV output resolution, providing the flexibility required by the courtrooms.  The systems also include Kramer PT−110EDID twisted pair transmitters and PT−120 twisted pair receivers for computer graphics signals.  The system allows a maximum resolution of WUXGA for computer graphics video signals and 1080p for HDTV signals for sharp, detailed images, even with long−range signal distribution.  

The audio system includes microphones throughout the court room, equipped with mute buttons where appropriate, as well as a white noise producer over the jury box that can mask any bench conversations.  DVD players, laptops and cell phones can be connected to the audio system, as well. 

Sanders said the installation was well−orchestrated, but carefully timed.  “We could not interfere with day−to−day proceedings, so we planned two courtrooms per installation visit,” he said.  “Although all of the rooms have the same basic electronics configuration, each one is shaped a little differently, so each one had its own challenges.” 

ExhibitOne trained the court’s technology staff on the usage procedures and court staff, in turn, trained the lawyers.  By making the guide book available on−line, visiting attorneys have access to the technology information, as well as contact information for additional questions.   Sanders noted that court officials like the consistency of the courtrooms and the ease−of−use of the systems. 

The final verdict:  Kramer Electronics products make the Waukesha County Courthouse a high−tech environment that’s easy for everyone to use.