Q
system in the high-volume criminal courtrooms. Media connections: Each courtroom will have a media box so there will no longer be TV camera cables that run through the courtroom entry. The TV camera mixer box can plug into an outlet outside of the courtroom entry in the public lobby. In the arraignment, double jury, high-volume and high-security courtrooms, there are media outlets at the courtrooms that connect to a media temporary staging room on the fourth floor, TV stations’ satellite dishes on the roof and a media pedestal at street level.
Separate from the courthouse, is the bench or are attorneys using technology to speed up matters and make things more efficient?
A
Utilization of the court’s e-File system in civil is one way counsel can contribute to saving court resources. The e-File system saves data entry and imaging time for court personnel. Utilization of the technology is growing amongst the bar and is now mandatory for all but self-represented parties in complex cases. Mandatory e-Filing will be the trend of the future. Many judges are utilizing online
systems will allow the court to add features as time goes on.
Q A
Will new technology increase safety in the courthouse? How? Where?
The new courthouse design will create a much safer courthouse, a more secure perimeter and safer holding and dedicated transportation corridors and elevators for in custody defendants. Security will be improved both physically and technologically in the new building.
Q
Are efforts being made to have more telephonic and video court appearances?
A
We are open to adapting to new opportunities. Court call service has been expanded to family law and it has been widely used in civil for some time. There has been discussion regarding video appearance technology. Due to budget cuts, the court does not have the personnel to prepare and evaluate the RFP (Request for Proposal) that would be necessary to implement the technology at this time. There are pilot projects ongoing in two counties to expand video appearances to traffic and we are following those projects with interest.
Q
Do telephonic and video court appearances save the court/budget money?
A View of the courhouse construction site from the Bar Center at 401 Cell phone signals: A distributed antenna system makes the building transparent for clear cell phone signals.
access for file review. There are numerous efficiencies realized by going online with files.
New case management systems: The new systems are described in response to other questions, but one goal is to enter the new building with few, if any, paper court files in probate and a great reduction in paper files in family. This will save the costs of moving, creating and maintaining paper files and will result in the reduction of a large volume of space in the new building dedicated to storage space.
Counsel are increasingly utilizing technology during trial presentations. Exhibits are commonly lodged electronically and only printed after they are received in evidence to go into the jury room. The new courthouse is set up for the increasing use of technology and once we have the new case management systems fully implemented, it will be possible to be truly paperless. The new case management
44 SAN DIEGO LAWYER January/February 2015
Not significantly at this time. All the component parts for the court system must be in place whether it is live (in person) or via some other means. It saves money and time for everyone other than the court as it obviates the need for coming to or being brought to court. A truly “virtual” appearance might save some security cost and does save some time which has an efficiency benefit.
Q
What other cost savings is the court engaging (currently and for the future)?
A
Cost savings is a misnomer. The court is actively cutting services to achieve a cost savings to meet reductions in our operating budget. We are also in the process of completing the transition to an online civil and probate