What Advancements Could Wi-Fi Bring to Court Rooms?

There has long been an argument for Wi-Fi to be present in the court room. Video recording has been banned for longer than people care to remember and it is only recently that reporters have been allowed to live-tweet from the court room. So with technology advancing so quickly, what can Wi-Fi do for the future of legal proceedings?

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Image Credit: Tsahi Levent-Levi

Nice and simple
One of the benefits of having Wi-Fi introduced to the court room is that it has the potential to make things a lot simpler and faster. If documents need to be created and passed to the judge or jury as evidence, a Wi-Fi connection will allow solicitors and clerks to send these files wirelessly. Rather than wasting reams of paper printing out several copies of important documents, staff can simply send the files straight over without having to use any paper at all.

The speed of Wi-Fi can also mean that any virtual interactions that are needed won’t be held up by a slow connection. Several devices can be connected at once, allowing everyone involved in the court proceedings to get online. It could speed up the general timeframe for each case, as things can be double checked via the internet, rather than rifling through a book.

Move with the times
The argument for having Wi-Fi in the court room is also supported by the idea that the legal system desperately needs to keep up with modern technology and is in need of a huge shake-up. The police force may also benefit from the updates, with notebooks being replaced with mobile devices to record evidence.

In the court room, evidence may be able to be displayed on digital screens, allowing it to stay in a safe location, rather than being brought into the court. The images can be projected via a Wi-Fi connection onto the screen at the request of the legal team, omitting the need for sensitive information to be transported anywhere.

Resource saving methods
For witnesses and staff, the inclusion of Wi-Fi in court rooms may mean that less people are needed to attend court every day. Police officers may not have to actually attend court to give evidence, but rather can speak to the room via a web link. Although this process is already in use for some vulnerable witnesses, the practice could become more widely used with a steady, stable Wi-Fi connection. This would save on essential resources like fuel used by people to drive to the court.

The paper resources could be drastically cut as well, allowing the legal system to work more economically. Rather than having to carry huge files into court each day, legal teams can easily just use an electronic device to access everything they need. On top of that, if anything has been left behind, court won’t need to be adjourned as the item can simply be accessed via the electronic device. The money saved from having to have less adjournments could make the investment in Wi-Fi worthwhile, both for the country and all the people who have to be in court on a daily basis.