An Oakland pilot program lets clients, attorneys, expert witnesses use phones and video to reduce travel expenses reports Detroit News.
The second phase will focus on video court appearances that would allow, for example, a prisoner to sit in a cell in the Upper Peninsula and be examined and cross examined by a prosecutor and defense lawyer in real time via video before a jury. Such a move would eliminate the expense of transporting the prisoner and providing security for that prisoner in the courthouse, among other costs.
"Video is the future of 21st century trials," Andrews said. "We are a pioneer in the area. Oakland County will be one of the first counties to move ahead in this area."
On Thursday, Andrews gathered a group of prominent trial and defense attorneys to his courtroom to demonstrate a telephonic conference call in which two attorneys role-played arguing a motion. The case took less than three minutes, Andrews said, and no participants had to leave their offices. All court proceedings done via phone or video would be part of the official court record, and the program is voluntary...To make the program work, attorneys and other parties would need to have high-quality Internet connections and a video conferencing room.
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