The computed-aided judiciary - How the contemporary technologies change the courtroom design?

Abstract

Theintroduction of multimedia electronic systems changed the legal practice over the last decade. The presence of computer-aided techniques such as information booths, digitalized case lists and land registers, e-courts in selected case categories, and electronic registration of the proceedings have entered the courts. Juristic buildings are permeated by sophisticated technologies, some of them influence the spatial organization of the courts. Has this change impacted courthouse architecture and furnishings? In order to answer this question the paper presents some implications of the implementation of computer-aided jurisdiction. The paper concentrates on the problems of architectural and acoustic requirements for the courtroom in view of electronic registration of the court proceedings; spatial needs for new types of rooms ie. electronic land register reading rooms, e-courts, secure teleconference and hearing facilities, server rooms; spatial and ergonomic requirements for the location of electronic information devices such as secure info-booths and electronic case lists. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.