Jury selection can be an intense task for all parties involved. However, new software, web-based applications and mobile technologies are helping to modernize the traditional pen-to-pad format of note taking for juror information as well as selection. In particular, digital devices such as Apple’s iPad and iPhone are changing the landscape of how jury selection procedures are conducted.
According to the American Bar Association’s 2013 Technology Survey Report, 55% of lawyers who use smartphones prefer the iPhone and 91% who use tablets prefer the iPad. So, not surprisingly, as legal professionals increasingly use Apple mobile devices, the market for legal specific apps continues to expand.
iPad Apps
New apps for the Apple iPad allow legal staff to electronically track individual juror trends and patterns through icons, as well as a “drag and drop” on-screen option to choose alternates or dismiss jurors during voir dire.
ImageSoft president Scott Bade adds that many judges are also using iPads for personal communication and general web browsing. “Some are even using iPads for research and advanced note-taking. Why are they using this particular device? The answer is the same reason that the iPad is the market leader—support, quality, and ease of use. ImageSoft is developing JudgeView, which will allow Judges to use an iPad as a tool that is tightly integrated into the court. Judges will be able to manage their calendar, their docket, view case documents and information and do research,” he adds.
“It’s clear that mobile technology is playing a major role in the courtroom,” reports John Arntsen, vice president, client services at Courthouse Technologies (CHT), Ltd. “Tablets are a great item. Having your jury system within arm’s reach at all times is beneficial to efficiency and convenience,” he notes.
Kiosk Apps
Arntsen says they are always looking to improve the products and services they offer. “When new ideas or requests are presented to us that make our jury platform more diverse and increase its effectiveness we look for new solutions. To that end, we recently upgraded our Courthouse Kiosk to allow a cash-dispenser for jury payment,” he says.
He explains that about a year ago, CHT was approached by Montgomery County (Dayton, Ohio) with the idea of paying jurors via cash, but doing so from a kiosk instead of using a voucher system. Their goal was to remove the process of the thousands of small $10 checks they wrote every year to make their finance department’s job easier, while allowing jurors to be paid on the same day as they serve.
“We were very pleased with the results and happy we could help Montgomery County accomplish their goal,” adds CHT president, Scott Kerr. “Anything technology driven that makes the jury process quicker is something that we are interested in. The best part of this development is that it is very easy to use.”
If you are looking to add solutions for your courtroom’s jury check-in or selection process or thinking of adding a new platform or application, here is a brief sampling of some of the latest products on the market.
Digital Juror Management
Juror Check-In Kioks
Infax Check-In Kiosks can be used to automate the juror check-in process. This solution allows jurors to check-in by scanning their barcoded summons. It will then prompt them through a self-identification process which collects data from questionnaires, IRS Form 1099 requests and other information sources. The kiosk can even print letters of attendance for jurors that have completed their service.
www.CourtSight.com, 770.209.9925
JuryTRAC
CourtView’s JuryTRAC jury selection and management solution assists with the entire juror process from compiling lists to post-trial payment and follow-up. With JuryTRAC, the court can save valuable time and reduce costs with an automated, integrated easy-to-use application that adapts to the court’s individual methods and rules of jury selection and administration. Benefits of JuryTRAC include jury pool management, records import, random list generation, online summons and questionnaires, barcode integration, jury service and payment history, NCSC Jury Toolbox Integration to extract state required statistics and more.
www.courtview.com/jurytrac, 1.800.406.4333
Web-based Apps
AMCAD’s Jury Management System is a web-based application that supports the operations, reporting, and other services required for the successful management of jurors. The solution is built upon scalable and open architecture and industry standards such as integration with the National Change of Address (NCOA) for address verification. In addition, the system provides all the required components for: summons and excusal management, jury pool and sub-pool management and jury service payment. The system offers role-based user security supported by an array of security rights that cover every facet of the system.
www.amcad.com, 1.866.793.6505
Jury Payment Kiosk
CHT’s Courthouse Kiosk has added a cash-dispenser for jury payment. The Montgomery County Common Pleas Court started using the reportedly first-ever jury-specific cash-dispensing kiosk. CHT released the original Courthouse Kiosk in 2012 with the goal of providing more self-service functions to jurors while increasing efficiency and speed during the check-in process.
www.courthouse-technologies.com, 1.877.685.2199
Jury Management App
JuryStar app for the iPad offers a total replacement to the traditional juror assessment system, making it far easier to manage the jury selection process and to make the best possible strike decisions. The brainchild of a trial attorney with experience in more than 50 juries and fine-tuned with the help of attorneys, para-legals and trial consultants, JuryStar eliminates the need to fumble with scribbled sticky notes and scads of other papers during jury selection.
https://litigatortechnology.com/, [email protected]
Streamlined Jury Management
Xerox’s AgileJury solution (version 4.0 release date May 2014) allows courts to automate and streamline the entire jury management process, including the use of mobile platforms. Courts can model and deliver random juror selection and selected pool size, easily update summons information and communicate with citizens through the internet. The solution uses industry-standard algorithms to ensure equal probability of all possible combinations to ensure jury selection is indiscriminate. In addition, AgileJury can be easily interfaced with the court’s existing information technology to facilitate a full integration into the justice system.
www.xerox.com/justice, 1.800.772.0597
Data Resource
LexisNexis Litigation Profile Suite quickly provides litigators comprehensive data and insights on the judges, experts, and attorneys involved in a case. This analytical tool draws from data on 335,000 expert witnesses, 77 million judges and 90 million attorneys including court records, transcripts, verdicts and settlements, pleadings and motions. This information can be used to aid juror selection, for expert witness research and to refine case strategy.
https://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/products/lexisnexis-profile-suite.page, 1.888.253.3901
Check-in, Mobile App & Cloud Archive
Jury Systems Incorporated has introduced JURY+ Solutions. Its three components offer functionality and support across the entire jury check-in and information storage process. Jury+ Self Check-in’s web-based module is said to save time and speed up juror management, while the program’s free mobile app lets jurors check in on the go from their mobile phone. Finally, the Jury+ Cloud solution offers efficient and reliable storage of juror archives, notes the company.
www.jurysystems.com, 1.800.222.6974, [email protected]
Jury Selection App
JuryPad is a leading jury selection app for the iPad and iPad mini. The app puts jury selection at your fingertips as trial lawyers and trial consultants now have a database of information about prospective jurors. JuryPad users can email their trials’ jury information to others as a text file or to email their database to other JuryPad users. Create, reuse, and share custom voir dire templates with other JuryPad users. It also helps users manage information to select a better jury during voir dire.
https://benchandbarllc.com/ipad-jury-selection-app, 1.877.472.9709
Touch-screen App
JudgeView, a new module in ImageSoft’s JusticeTech court solution, is a touch-screen application designed specifically for judicial officers and staff using an electronic case file. It creates an enhanced experience at the bench and in the courtroom while enabling the mobile processing of case files anytime and anywhere. JudgeView combines key court CMS data, electronic case file and workflow into a single interface for easy navigation to rapidly manage cases in the courtroom.
https://www.imagesoftinc.com,
1.888.315.3901
Dedicated Court Tablet
CHT’s Courthouse Tablet provides the tools a staff needs to make their jury operation completely mobile and gives them an easy, alternative way to check-in and attend jurors. Courthouse Tablet is said to dramatically reduce the need for lineups that slow down the check-in process and provides one- touch attendance capabilities on a convenient touch-screen interface. It is completely integrated with Courthouse JMS.
www.courthouse-technologies.com, 1.877.685.2199
Computer-generated Juror Response
Judicial Systems, Inc. has developed and imbedded natural language processing (NLP) algorithms into one of their jury management products with mJuror. mJuror receives text or email input from a potential juror, in everyday language, and evaluates the meaning of the request. The software then provides an accurate response to the potential juror’s inquiry. This gives the court the ability to accomplish two things at once: provide human-like interaction with citizens that doesn’t involve additional personnel expenses, and address the citizen’s desire for an instant response. The company’s website offers an online demonstration.
www.judicialsystems.com or 1.800.205.4068
Track Juror Selection
Jury Box software allows users to digitally manage all aspects of the jury selection process. Users can set up their virtual courtroom to match the actual courtroom, easily track juror information with up to 50 customizable categories of information for each prospective juror, and drag and drop prospective jurors during the selection process. Jury Box is available for laptops and desktops for both Macs and PCs.
www.jurybox.com, 858.705.4960
Jury Selection & Management
Tyler's Jury Management software simplifies the jury selection and court management process. Many functions are reduced to a click of a mouse, while others can be handled quickly or even automated through an intuitive and user-friendly interface. From easily searching, creating and managing a list of eligible jurors to entering updates, maintaining exemptions and providing an efficient check-in process, the entire jury selection process is handled by one system.
www.tylertech.com,1.800.431.5776
According to the American Bar Association’s 2013 Technology Survey Report, 55% of lawyers who use smartphones prefer the iPhone and 91% who use tablets prefer the iPad. So, not surprisingly, as legal professionals increasingly use Apple mobile devices, the market for legal specific apps continues to expand.
iPad Apps
New apps for the Apple iPad allow legal staff to electronically track individual juror trends and patterns through icons, as well as a “drag and drop” on-screen option to choose alternates or dismiss jurors during voir dire.
ImageSoft president Scott Bade adds that many judges are also using iPads for personal communication and general web browsing. “Some are even using iPads for research and advanced note-taking. Why are they using this particular device? The answer is the same reason that the iPad is the market leader—support, quality, and ease of use. ImageSoft is developing JudgeView, which will allow Judges to use an iPad as a tool that is tightly integrated into the court. Judges will be able to manage their calendar, their docket, view case documents and information and do research,” he adds.
“It’s clear that mobile technology is playing a major role in the courtroom,” reports John Arntsen, vice president, client services at Courthouse Technologies (CHT), Ltd. “Tablets are a great item. Having your jury system within arm’s reach at all times is beneficial to efficiency and convenience,” he notes.
Kiosk Apps
Arntsen says they are always looking to improve the products and services they offer. “When new ideas or requests are presented to us that make our jury platform more diverse and increase its effectiveness we look for new solutions. To that end, we recently upgraded our Courthouse Kiosk to allow a cash-dispenser for jury payment,” he says.
He explains that about a year ago, CHT was approached by Montgomery County (Dayton, Ohio) with the idea of paying jurors via cash, but doing so from a kiosk instead of using a voucher system. Their goal was to remove the process of the thousands of small $10 checks they wrote every year to make their finance department’s job easier, while allowing jurors to be paid on the same day as they serve.
“We were very pleased with the results and happy we could help Montgomery County accomplish their goal,” adds CHT president, Scott Kerr. “Anything technology driven that makes the jury process quicker is something that we are interested in. The best part of this development is that it is very easy to use.”
If you are looking to add solutions for your courtroom’s jury check-in or selection process or thinking of adding a new platform or application, here is a brief sampling of some of the latest products on the market.
Digital Juror Management
Juror Check-In Kioks
Infax Check-In Kiosks can be used to automate the juror check-in process. This solution allows jurors to check-in by scanning their barcoded summons. It will then prompt them through a self-identification process which collects data from questionnaires, IRS Form 1099 requests and other information sources. The kiosk can even print letters of attendance for jurors that have completed their service.
www.CourtSight.com, 770.209.9925
JuryTRAC
CourtView’s JuryTRAC jury selection and management solution assists with the entire juror process from compiling lists to post-trial payment and follow-up. With JuryTRAC, the court can save valuable time and reduce costs with an automated, integrated easy-to-use application that adapts to the court’s individual methods and rules of jury selection and administration. Benefits of JuryTRAC include jury pool management, records import, random list generation, online summons and questionnaires, barcode integration, jury service and payment history, NCSC Jury Toolbox Integration to extract state required statistics and more.
www.courtview.com/jurytrac, 1.800.406.4333
Web-based Apps
AMCAD’s Jury Management System is a web-based application that supports the operations, reporting, and other services required for the successful management of jurors. The solution is built upon scalable and open architecture and industry standards such as integration with the National Change of Address (NCOA) for address verification. In addition, the system provides all the required components for: summons and excusal management, jury pool and sub-pool management and jury service payment. The system offers role-based user security supported by an array of security rights that cover every facet of the system.
www.amcad.com, 1.866.793.6505
Jury Payment Kiosk
CHT’s Courthouse Kiosk has added a cash-dispenser for jury payment. The Montgomery County Common Pleas Court started using the reportedly first-ever jury-specific cash-dispensing kiosk. CHT released the original Courthouse Kiosk in 2012 with the goal of providing more self-service functions to jurors while increasing efficiency and speed during the check-in process.
www.courthouse-technologies.com, 1.877.685.2199
Jury Management App
JuryStar app for the iPad offers a total replacement to the traditional juror assessment system, making it far easier to manage the jury selection process and to make the best possible strike decisions. The brainchild of a trial attorney with experience in more than 50 juries and fine-tuned with the help of attorneys, para-legals and trial consultants, JuryStar eliminates the need to fumble with scribbled sticky notes and scads of other papers during jury selection.
https://litigatortechnology.com/, [email protected]
Streamlined Jury Management
Xerox’s AgileJury solution (version 4.0 release date May 2014) allows courts to automate and streamline the entire jury management process, including the use of mobile platforms. Courts can model and deliver random juror selection and selected pool size, easily update summons information and communicate with citizens through the internet. The solution uses industry-standard algorithms to ensure equal probability of all possible combinations to ensure jury selection is indiscriminate. In addition, AgileJury can be easily interfaced with the court’s existing information technology to facilitate a full integration into the justice system.
www.xerox.com/justice, 1.800.772.0597
Data Resource
LexisNexis Litigation Profile Suite quickly provides litigators comprehensive data and insights on the judges, experts, and attorneys involved in a case. This analytical tool draws from data on 335,000 expert witnesses, 77 million judges and 90 million attorneys including court records, transcripts, verdicts and settlements, pleadings and motions. This information can be used to aid juror selection, for expert witness research and to refine case strategy.
https://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/products/lexisnexis-profile-suite.page, 1.888.253.3901
Check-in, Mobile App & Cloud Archive
Jury Systems Incorporated has introduced JURY+ Solutions. Its three components offer functionality and support across the entire jury check-in and information storage process. Jury+ Self Check-in’s web-based module is said to save time and speed up juror management, while the program’s free mobile app lets jurors check in on the go from their mobile phone. Finally, the Jury+ Cloud solution offers efficient and reliable storage of juror archives, notes the company.
www.jurysystems.com, 1.800.222.6974, [email protected]
Jury Selection App
JuryPad is a leading jury selection app for the iPad and iPad mini. The app puts jury selection at your fingertips as trial lawyers and trial consultants now have a database of information about prospective jurors. JuryPad users can email their trials’ jury information to others as a text file or to email their database to other JuryPad users. Create, reuse, and share custom voir dire templates with other JuryPad users. It also helps users manage information to select a better jury during voir dire.
https://benchandbarllc.com/ipad-jury-selection-app, 1.877.472.9709
Touch-screen App
JudgeView, a new module in ImageSoft’s JusticeTech court solution, is a touch-screen application designed specifically for judicial officers and staff using an electronic case file. It creates an enhanced experience at the bench and in the courtroom while enabling the mobile processing of case files anytime and anywhere. JudgeView combines key court CMS data, electronic case file and workflow into a single interface for easy navigation to rapidly manage cases in the courtroom.
https://www.imagesoftinc.com,
1.888.315.3901
Dedicated Court Tablet
CHT’s Courthouse Tablet provides the tools a staff needs to make their jury operation completely mobile and gives them an easy, alternative way to check-in and attend jurors. Courthouse Tablet is said to dramatically reduce the need for lineups that slow down the check-in process and provides one- touch attendance capabilities on a convenient touch-screen interface. It is completely integrated with Courthouse JMS.
www.courthouse-technologies.com, 1.877.685.2199
Computer-generated Juror Response
Judicial Systems, Inc. has developed and imbedded natural language processing (NLP) algorithms into one of their jury management products with mJuror. mJuror receives text or email input from a potential juror, in everyday language, and evaluates the meaning of the request. The software then provides an accurate response to the potential juror’s inquiry. This gives the court the ability to accomplish two things at once: provide human-like interaction with citizens that doesn’t involve additional personnel expenses, and address the citizen’s desire for an instant response. The company’s website offers an online demonstration.
www.judicialsystems.com or 1.800.205.4068
Track Juror Selection
Jury Box software allows users to digitally manage all aspects of the jury selection process. Users can set up their virtual courtroom to match the actual courtroom, easily track juror information with up to 50 customizable categories of information for each prospective juror, and drag and drop prospective jurors during the selection process. Jury Box is available for laptops and desktops for both Macs and PCs.
www.jurybox.com, 858.705.4960
Jury Selection & Management
Tyler's Jury Management software simplifies the jury selection and court management process. Many functions are reduced to a click of a mouse, while others can be handled quickly or even automated through an intuitive and user-friendly interface. From easily searching, creating and managing a list of eligible jurors to entering updates, maintaining exemptions and providing an efficient check-in process, the entire jury selection process is handled by one system.
www.tylertech.com,1.800.431.5776
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