The Eastern District of Virginia has evidence presentation systems available in its Alexandria,  Richmond, Newport News and Norfolk divisions. The systems enable attorneys to present a piece of evidence simultaneously to everyone in the courtroom through a network of display monitors.

The systems allow lawyers to:

• Show scanned documents, present animations, display graphics and play videos stored electronically on a lap top.
• Magnify portions of a paper document, a photo or a small piece of physical evidence with a digital document camera.
• Use any aftermarket evidence presentation software installed on their lap top.

Some of the systems allow attorneys or witnesses to annotate displayed evidence on touch screens located at the lectern and witness box.

Mobile evidence presentation systems that can be used in any courtroom are available in Alexandria, Richmond and Norfolk. The mobile systems consist of a document camera, inputs for lap top computers and display screens for the courtroom.  These mobile systems must be reserved in advance to allow adequate time for setup and configuration. We ask for at least one week advance notice of the request for reservation of the mobile evidence system.

In Alexandria, there are permanent evidence systems installed in Courtrooms 601, 700, 801, 900 and 1000. In addition to all the features listed above, many of the courtrooms can accommodate phone conference calls.

Richmond and Newport News have permanent evidence systems installed in every courtroom along with phone and video conference systems. 

In Norfolk, there is a permanent evidence system in District Courtroom 3.  Most District and Magistrate Courtrooms can accommodate phone conference calls.

The components of the mobile and permanent video evidence systems vary slightly. Here's a look at key elements of Alexandria's Courtroom 700 permanent evidence system:

At the attorney lectern [from left], a 15-inch video monitor/touch screen on which evidence is displayed and annotated, the system control panel, and the document camera which transmits images of the evidence to the monitors. In addition to documents, the camera can display small three-dimensional objects, photographs, negatives and x-rays.

The support table, located just inside the courtroom's well, has a second control panel, which allows another member of the trial team to operate the system while an attorney stands at the lectern.

Witnesses can view and annotate documents on their own monitor/touch screen.

At each counsel table, a 15-inch monitor displays the evidence. There are similar monitors for the judge, the law clerk, the courtroom deputy clerk and the court reporter. Behind the monitor [inset], a pop-up box contains electrical plugs to power laptop computers and jacks to receive image feeds from laptops.

There are 50-inch monitors on each end of the jury box.

There are 42-inch monitors on the left and right walls of the gallery, just outside the courtroom's well.

Attorneys interested in using the systems must receive approval from the judge presiding in their case at least one week before they intend to use the systems. Requesting parties are instructed to contact the courtroom clerk and/or the chambers of the trial judge to attain the required permission to use the evidence systems. The systems are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The systems are run by the attorneys, not by court staff. Orientation prior to any use of the equipment is encouraged. Once you have received approval, please contact the Court Technology Administrator Lance Bachman at 703-299-2148 and Lance_Bachman@vaed.uscourts.gov.