My recent experiences as a juror reminded me that the jury duty process offers a way for each of us to serve our greater community. I learned more about criminal proceedings in my local courthouse.
Discover more about my experience serving as a juror including: the jury duty process, juror selection, and what to expect when you are called to serve.
It’s no secret that the criminal justice system has been in the news more frequently, from high-profile cases, to increasing violence, to policy reform and more. Here, we break down some of your most common questions about a key role in the criminal justice system: our district attorneys.
The question of courtroom admissibility is a hot topic – and for good reason. Prosecutors require strong evidence to obtain a conviction, whereas defense attorneys are seeking a “not guilty” verdict, or better yet, the case dismissed. When evidence gets thrown out by the court, it’s a huge win for the defense.
When it comes to admitting digital and photographic evidence into a courtroom to be used in a criminal case, there are four criteria each piece of evidence must meet: accuracy, authenticity, originality, and relevancy.
Is technology important in the courtroom? According to research reported a Superior Court Judge in the District of Columbia, “94% of surveyed jurors agreed or strongly agreed ‘Overall, the use of technology tools in the courtroom improved my ability to serve as a juror in this case.’”
On their own, or as the member of a large firm, how a lawyer uses technology today is crucial to their business and career survival. Learn more about how Lawyers use Tech every day.
Technology in the courtroom is nothing new. It arrived 150 years ago. Photography made its first courtroom appearances in the U.S. in the 1870s, followed by the first fingerprint identification and a criminal conviction in Argentina in 1892.