Electronic Evidence Submission / Presentation
 

The following electronic evidence presentation systems are available for use by attorneys at courtrooms in the Eastern District:

By Equipment:
 

  • Electronic Evidence Presentation Inputs.  Audio and video inputs are located at the lectern and attorney tables in Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield. Additional input locations are available at the witness stand and judge’s bench locations in Fresno and Bakersfield only.  The available input types include VGA and HDMI (note: only Fresno and Bakersfield have true HDMI output), both with separate 3.5 mm audio input connections.[1]  Additionally, a composite video and audio input connection is located at the lectern (latter input is the red/white/yellow connectors used primarily to connect video/audio from such things as a compact disk player, cassette player, video camera, VCR, or DVD player). The parties must provide their own equipment (computers, DVD players, etc.) to utilize these inputs. Also, if the parties do not have the required inputs to connect to the Court’s system, then the parties are responsible for providing any necessary adapters to connect to the Court’s electronic system.

 

  • Evidence Monitors.  Evidence monitors for viewing evidence presented through the courtroom’s electronic evidence presentation systems are located at the jury box, witness stand, lectern, judge’s bench, courtroom deputy’s desk, law clerk’s desk, and the court reporter’s desk. 

 

  • Document Camera.  A document camera is located at the lectern. The document camera provides both optical and digital zoom capabilities which can focus on materials as small as a postage stamp (and even smaller for digital zoom). The camera can also be adjusted to focus on objects in front or behind the unit.

 

  • Pointmaker Annotation System.  The Pointmaker system allows a user to draw, or mark pictures or video drawn from the lectern & witness stand locations only. This annotation can be shown throughout the courtroom evidence monitors. The free hand drawing system includes a menu with the following features: to change the choice of pen color, pointer style, line thickness, solid or highlighter pen mode, and undo and clear all to erase prior markings. The parties may only use Pointmaker for demonstrative purposes.  Pointmaker markings cannot be recorded or memorialized for the record and items produced as a result of it cannot not be exhibited.

By Area:
 

  • Counsel Table (Each Table):
  • Electronic Evidence Presentation Inputs (VGA and separate 3.5 mm audio input connections; HDMI available in Fresno and Bakersfield only)
  • One (1) Evidence Monitor (23” screen) *some courtrooms have additional monitor
  • Two (2) audio microphones[2]

 

  • Lectern:
  • Electronic Evidence Presentation Inputs (VGA and separate 3.5 mm audio input connections and composite video and audio input connection; HDMI available in Fresno and Bakersfield only)
  • Pointmaker Annotation System
  • One (1) Evidence Monitor   
  • Two (2) audio microphones *some courtrooms in Sacramento have just one

 

  • Witness Stand:
  • Fresno and Bakersfield only: Electronic Evidence Presentation Inputs (HDMI and VGA and separate 3.5 mm audio input connections )
  • One (1) Evidence Monitor  
  • Pointmaker Annotation System
  • Audio microphone

 

  • Jury Box:
  • In Sacramento: Six (6) Evidence monitors in front row (24” screens)
  • In Fresno and Bakersfield: Six (6) Evidence monitors (3 per row)(23”screens)
  • Two audio microphones (front row only- use roving microphone for jury selection)

 

  • Bench, Courtroom Clerk and Electronic/Court Reporter (Each Area):
  • One (1) Evidence Monitor
  • Pointmaker Annotation System (Courtroom Clerk area only)
  • Audio microphone

 

Other Available Services

 

  • Audio Conferencing.  To arrange or participate in an audio conference, the parties must contact the courtroom deputy. *note: available at all court locations, including Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Redding and Yosemite.

 

  • Interpretation capabilities.  Each courtroom is equipped with interpreter and hearing impaired systems. The systems use infrared technology which transmits sound to headset users.  In non-criminal cases, interpreters are not provided by the Court. *note: available at all court locations.

 

  • Video Conferencing.  Video Conferences can be arranged in the courtroom via the Polycom video system.  A free Polycom app is also available for IOS and Android devices. The court’s system can provide up to three different camera views of the courtroom. Participants should consult with the courtroom AV technician in regards to desired camera views. To participate in a video conference, the parties must contact the courtroom deputy. *note: available at all court locations.

 

  • Real-Time Transcription Services.  In general, most District courtrooms offer a fee-based transcription service. In Magistrate courtrooms, the proceedings will be recorded via the Court’s electronic recording system (ECRO). Check with the courtroom deputy for further details. *note: applies to all court locations.  
     

Acceptable Audio and Video Formats

 

  • Pursuant to Local Rule 138 section L (effective February 1, 2019), the following acceptable media formats are: AVI (Audio Video Interleave), MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group), or WMV (Windows Media Video). All images and pictures are required to be submitted electronically in JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), PNG (Portable Network Graphics) or TIFF (Tagged Image Format File) format.
     

Evidence Presentation Obligations

 

  • Parties who intend to present evidence electronically via the Court’s electronic evidence presentation systems must be familiar with the systems prior to the hearing/trial. No court/jury time will be provided during court proceedings to allow the parties to troubleshoot issues with the parties’ equipment or the equipment in the courtroom. If a party is unfamiliar with the Court’s systems, they are strongly encouraged to attend an orientation with the Court’s IT representative prior to the hearing/trial (see procedures below). The Court will not tolerate any delays during any proceedings caused by a party’s unfamiliarity with the Court’s systems or by the failure of a party’s equipment. The parties will be required to present their cases without the aid of the electronic evidence presentation systems in the event that the systems are unavailable due to the party’s unfamiliarity, due to equipment failure or due to any other “technology” delays.

 

  • In addition to familiarizing themselves with the Court’s electronic evidence presentation systems in advance of the hearing/trial, the parties must familiarize themselves with their own equipment and how to connect their own equipment with the Court’s systems prior to the hearing/trial. Specifically, the parties should be familiar with:

 

  • Adjusting the refresh rate on their computer (to 60 Hz)

 

  • Adjusting the resolution on their computer (to 1024x768)

 

  • In Fresno: Switching the display on their computer to send video to the Court’s A/V system (the Court uses the Extron DSC 301 HD compliant scaler and XTP R (& T) HDMI systems at the attorney tables and the Extron DVS 605 compliant scaler and XTP R (&T) HDMI systems at the lectern).

 

  • In Sacramento: Switching the display on their computer to send video to the Court’s A/V system (the Court uses the Extron RGB580 xi interface at both attorney tables and lectern location.

 

            Making the physical connections between the electronic evidence presentation systems and their equipment. The parties are responsible for providing any cable adapters required to connect to their equipment to the Court’s systems. For example, to display content from an iPad to the Court’s systems, the parties must provide their own iPad-to-VGA or iPad-to-HDMI adapter. Please note that the Court’s staff cannot work on and/or provide support for any non?court equipment.

 

Electronic Evidence Presentation Systems Orientation

            Any party wishing to familiarize themselves with the Court’s electronic evidence presentation systems are strongly encouraged to set up an orientation session with the Court’s IT staff.

 

            To do so, please contact the courtroom deputy at least three (3) weeks before your trial or hearing. The courtroom deputy will coordinate with the Court’s IT representative to schedule a convenient time to conduct the orientation.

 

            Parties who attend an electronic evidence presentation systems orientation should bring the equipment they will use to connect to the systems as well as samples of the content they intend to present at the trial/hearing through the systems.


[1]   All HDMI connections will accept audio & video. The separate, paired 3.5 mm audio connectors can be used if your device can not send audio through the HDMI connector.

 

[2]   The Court’s microphones are extremely sensitive. On the base of the microphone is a privacy mute button. Press and hold to mute the microphone. Also, wireless lapel microphones may be available to counsel for opening and closing.