Western Circuit courts seek funding for upgrades in courtroom technology
The courts in the Western Circuit recently applied for a $1.17 million grant to upgrade the video and audio equipment that serves the courtrooms and jails in Clarke and Oconee counties.
The Athens-Clarke County Commission agreed this month to be the designated government to receive and disperse the federal money made available through the American Rescue Plan Act.
“We’re at a place we need an upgrade,” Western Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Eric Norris said. “Bringing it up to current versions is warranted and we’ve got the funding to do so.”
Having access to such technology has become vital in courtrooms, not only during jury trials, but in hearings that are often conducted online, according to Norris.
Roundabout: Roundabout planned near downtown Athens heads toward final design phase
Cold Case: Bill inspired by slaying of UGA student could create cold case unit in GBI
Most attorneys handling cases receive documents in an electronic format, according to Norris.
Consequently, he said courtrooms need the televisions, the screens and various connections to view these documents.
Norris said that ARPA requires that a certain payroll department in the circuit become the designated body to receive the funds.
“Since we’re a two-county circuit, we designated Athens-Clarke as the past-through entity,” he said, adding there is “zero cost” to the circuit.
Norris said ARPA expanded its use of funding to include technology upgrades for courtrooms.
Bond hearings can be done virtually from jails which reduces the transportation of inmates, he said.
According to government documents, the existing audio-visual equipment in the courtrooms was installed in 2018 and funded through a 2011 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. However, the equipment needs constant repairs and this has been disruptive during court proceedings.
The funds would provide for the hiring of staff in each county who are “readily available to assist in the courtroom when an issue arises.”
The updated technology would go to each of the various courtroom in both courthouses along with rooms at each jail.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Western Circuit expects to upgrade courtroom audio-visual technology
