Chapter 3: General Design Guidelines
Automation
Most of the equipment found in the courts, such as telephones, modems, copiers, and
facsimile machines, are similar to that used in other government and business
organizations. The federal courts also use several technologies specifically modified
and adopted for judicial purposes, such as court reporting and court computer
services.
Since automation technology is constantly evolving, any installation should be
adaptable to change. Efficient architectural planning, programming, and design must
facilitate installation and modification of these technologies, and substantially reduce
the costs of equipment installation and maintenance. The following is a discussion of
present and anticipated automation requirements of the courthouse.
General Automation Trends
The federal judiciary is committed to automating various court functions,
concentrating on the following:
Automated data-processing system servers, either operated and controlled by
each court unit, at the AOUSC in Washington, D.C., or in contractor
facilities, will handle many of the court's administrative, payroll, personnel,
financial, property inventory, statistics, and case management needs. Such
systems will increasingly be available to the judiciary via local area networks
(LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).
Office automation systems, primarily personal computers, will be installed in
courtrooms and offices. Court systems and stand-alone equipment installed in
each judge's chambers will provide judges and their immediate staff with
office automation services such as word processing, electronic mail, optical
document retrieval, and case management. Similar systems, equipment, and
services will be used in the Clerk's Office, Probation and Pretrial Services
Office(s), Staff Attorney Office, libraries, and other judiciary-related offices.
Data communications networks will electronically link various
data-processing and office automation systems with users in the courthouse
and nationwide.
Satellite video broadcasts will distribute educational programs and
administrative information to courts. Downlink equipment and related cabling,
or provisions for their future installation, must be provided for all
courthouses. All appropriate rooms such as courtrooms, judges' chambers,
12/19/97
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