OBA Invests to Ensure Access to A/V Equipment in District Court Civil Cases
As a younger generation of attorneys take their cases to the courtroom, technology is increasingly used to present materials.
Private practicing attorneys are encouraged to take advantage of audiovisual equipment available for short-term use at the Douglas County District Court.
The rental service, offered by the Omaha Bar Association, is intended to provide technological support for civil trials and hearings. The County Attorney’s Office has an A/V system available for use by private defense counsel in criminal proceedings.
The increased use of audiovisual material is part of a newer approach to legal practice that Creighton University law professor R. Collin Mangrum calls “the wave of the future.”
“Electronics are being used to present and organize information, and that’s going to expand over time,” said Mangrum, who feels that the use of A/V equipment in the courtroom ushers in “a new age of demonstrative evidence.”
Audiovisual aids can be especially useful in augmenting testimonies, as well as disseminating complex information such as timelines, models and differential diagnostics to juries, judges and other audiences. Mangrum promotes the use of electronic technologies for demonstrative evidence among his students.
Dave Sommers, executive director of the Omaha Bar Association, agrees with its promotion.
“When used the right way, it’s very effective,” Sommers said.
Attorneys sometimes use software or hire third-party designers to create representations of evidence or testimony, including moving models of significant scenes such as crashes, which can serve as compelling demonstrative evidence. In those cases, A/V equipment is essential, as it is used to illustrate what the jury is hearing in the courtroom.
“In the past, this might have been done with printed displays, but those representations were static and couldn’t be easily manipulated,” Sommers said. “With moving videos, one can convey what happened with a little more certainty.”
However, there are times when visual aids are unnecessary or even detrimental.
If the screen is displaying only written information, it can result in distraction and disengagement. Sommers called this “death by PowerPoint.”
“But when we consider juries and how they learn, presenting things in a way that is easy for them to understand is the ultimate goal,” Sommers said. “In general people learn in different ways, they comprehend in different ways, so speaking is not the same as showing.”
Demonstrative evidence presented using A/V equipment may be most useful with larger groups, but Sommers also sees an opportunity to bring digital representations into hearings, including those held in chambers.
“Attorneys who are going into really important hearings should use their personal best approach for getting that evidence into the hands of the judge,” he said.
For some, that approach may involve moving or interactive demonstrative displays. For others, a more traditional approach might remain more effective.
While some courtrooms across the state are equipped with up-to-date A/V systems, progress is slow in part due to the electrical limitations of historical buildings.
There has been some interest expressed in expanding the OBA rental service to County Court, but the rentals are only available in District Court at this time. Sommers said federal court has its own built-in A/V systems, and the OBA rental service is unique.
The equipment available for rental was fully updated in 2017. It includes HDMI hookups, 60-inch flat-screen TVs and ELMO interactive overhead projectors for sharing documents.
Proceeds from the rental service provide support to the OBA’s Lawyer Referral Service, which offers free referrals for legal services in Douglas, Sarpy, Cass and Washington counties.
Fees for rentals vary for OBA members and nonmembers, the duration of rental and the equipment needed. A visual presentation station costs $225 per day for a nonmember or $150 for an OBA member. In general, OBA members save at least 30%. A nonrefundable deposit is required, and sales tax is added to the final bill.
To reserve A/V equipment, contact the OBA or Mike Hanson at the courthouse. An application for rental can be completed at omahabarassociation.com.
User login
Omaha Daily Record
The Daily Record
222 South 72nd Street, Suite 302
Omaha, Nebraska
68114
United States
Tele (402) 345-1303
Fax (402) 345-2351