Page 1-1
The incorporation of the
infrastructure as defined in this
manual is critical to the success of
the courtroom technology initiative.
The success of initial installations
as well as the long term viability
and flexibility of the court
technology relies on the inclusion of
the infrastructure, defined here
within the courthouse.
GSA’s role in this effort should be to
help facilitate the interaction of the
whole design team which includes
GSA, GSA’s architecture/ engineering
(A/E) consultant, the Administrative
Office of the US Courts (AOUSC), the
court, the circuit, and the audio/visual
(A/V) consultant. GSA will monitor the
design process to make sure the
required infrastructure is fully
integrated into the design, and that
input from the A/V consultant is
appropriately incorporated into the
project.
SECTION I
GSA Coordination Issues of
Courtroom Technology
Courtroom technology has been installed in many
courtrooms with positive operating results and will be
implemented into new and existing courtrooms in
accordance with the program implementation plan approved by the
Judicial Conference Committee on Automation and Technology, subject
to available funding. Courtrooms will need to be outfitted with
appropriate infrastructure to accommodate the technology. The
incorporation of the infrastructure as defined in this manual is critical to
the success of the courtroom technology initiative. The success of initial
installations as well as the long-term viability and flexibility of the court
technology relies on the inclusion of the infrastructure, defined herein
within the courthouse. Failure to provide these needs will result in
structures which will not be able to accommodate the evolving
technology needs of the courts both in the present and in the future.
Coordination of the courtroom technology needs to be a significant focus
in the overall design process of the courthouse, especially in the
courtroom itself. The technology must be fully integrated and not appear
as an afterthought or an add-on to the final designed environment. Proper
integration of these components begins by recognizing their requirements
early in the design phase. This includes careful attention to the
coordination of the acoustics of the space, the lighting concepts as well
as the electronic equipment itself. As the courtroom design progresses,
more detailed attention is required to properly accommodate the
equipment within the overall aesthetic of the court environment. This is
especially critical in the millwork associated with the judge’s bench,
witness, clerk, and jury box. Careful consideration should be given to
each component described within this manual as it relates to the overall
courtroom aesthetic.
The General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) role in this effort should
be to help facilitate the interaction of the whole design team which
includes GSA, GSA’s architect/engineering design consultants (A/E
consultants), the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
(AOUSC), the court, the circuit, and the audio/visual (A/V) consultants.
GSA will monitor the design process to make sure the required
infrastructure is fully integrated into the design, and that input from the
A/V consultant is appropriately incorporated into the project.
This manual will organize and guide the installation process for this
technology, including needs assessment, design development, installation,
and quality control. The GSA , the A/E consultant and the A/V
consultant shall work together to assure all courthouse infrastructure
items are successfully implemented. (See Figure #1 on page 1-2)