What the Future Holds for Technology in the Courtroom

Since the turn of the 21st century, we've seen some amazing developments in technology that have forever changed the way we not only live, but the way we do business. Technological advancements have drastically improved our quality of life and simplified a number of tasks that once took far more energy and time to complete.

The courtroom is not immune to the progress of technology, and in fact could benefit quite largely from embracing the new wave of technology and learning how to incorporate it into legal practice and client cases. Cutting-edge breakthroughs in technology are changing the way lawyers argue cases and offering new ways for a case to carry real impact, in addition to making lawyers' lives a little easier with things like e-court filing.

New Technologies in the Courtroom

Electronic Court Filing: In an effort to become more eco-friendly, more legal bodies are moving toward paperless documentation. Courts are now allowing people to submit documents via online electronic submission, or "e-filing," which makes filing claims and handling legal proceedings much more convenient. The primary benefit of e-filing is its convenience, for those who may not have the time or means to make it to the courthouse to file their documents in person.

Another feature in some of the newer innovations of e-filing includes the ability to see the case in a timeline format, from when the case was first opened, to exactly when each document, piece of evidence or statement was introduced. Not only that, but some e-filing systems contain internal linking abilities to the documents within a case file. Say for example, a lawyer is reading an update on the case that contains a reference to "exhibit F," an affidavit supporting the claims being made in the update. With the internal linking ability, the lawyer will be able to click on the piece of evidence (the affidavit in this case) being referenced and pull up said evidence for review without digging through boxes of documents.

This is not only convenient for clients who have struggled with traditional filing methods, but also for the lawyers arguing the case, as they'll have more free time to focus on the case strategy without having to spend time digging through boxes of evidence and documents.

Blockchain Technology: The rise of blockchain technology has been a big topic of conversation, especially in recent years due to the popularity of cryptocurrency. Blockchain is a cutting-edge digital ledger that creates decentralized records of peer-to-peer transactions—useful because it allows immediate funds payments and transfers without the need for financial institutions.

However, there are a number of practical uses for blockchain technology in law as well, particularly because it accommodates smart contracts, sets of terms and conditions that can be automated by the likes of blockchain technology. Blockchain technology also has the ability to record events for a long duration, which may help with intellectual property claims or criminal charges related to specific cases.

3D Printing: 3D printing is one of the newest and most cutting-edge developments in the realm of technology, with the ability to produce very complex shapes and figures with minimal effort through the use of a computer-aided design model. To build these designs, the 3D printer extrudes molten plastic through a small nozzle, moving with precision to layer the plastic into the shape programmed into the computer.

Although 3D printers may not seem to have an immediate application in law at first glance, there is a huge benefit for lawyers, especially those that frequently handle personal injury, assault and battery, or car accident cases. These cases are typically grounded on the type and extent of injuries sustained, and the severity of the incident, which is a message better conveyed when the judge or jury can review tangible examples, rather than just after-math pictures and retellings.

With a 3D printer, a lawyer can recreate their client's injuries in a 3D model of a broken bone that is able to be passed and handled throughout the courtroom. Additionally, lawyers arguing a car accident case can create a 3D model of the accident itself, detailing any damage to property in a realistic way for the court to review.

Virtual Reality: Virtual reality is another form of technology that our society has barely scratched the surface of. Creating simulated experiences similar to those found in the real world, virtual reality technology allows a user to visualize and partake in moments that would be otherwise unattainable. For example, when arguing a car accident case, the use of virtual reality could be used to recreate the incident in the place that it occurred to give the viewers or jury more perspective.

Innovations in virtual reality could allow a jury to be transported to the scene of a crime or incident, allowing them to get a firsthand feeling and view of how events allegedly transpired. Prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses, and judges will all benefit from being able to utilize virtual reality to get more accurate visualizations of the information being reviewed in court.

What's to Come 

As technology continues to advance, we will surely see more advancements in the courtroom. One development that may become more prevalent is the use of video chat during litigation. Expanded use of video conference court appearances, as well as improved photo/video sharing technology, can allow for better communication of evidence to affect the outcomes of trials.

Leon Hilliard "Hil" Hughes is an auto accident and workers' compensation attorney with Morrison & Hughes Law. He may be reached at [email protected].