Courtroom Technology

The United States District Court for the Central District of California is committed to providing an audio/visual experience that meets and exceeds the needs of the Bar and the public by integrating exceptional HD audio/visual and presentation technologies to improve courtroom efficiency. All district and magistrate judge courtrooms in the First Street and Roybal Courthouses are equipped with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment to facilitate the presentation of photos, documents, objects, Blu ray/DVDs, and electronic content.

Court equipment includes a document camera, a Blu Ray/DVD player, Apple TV,  monitors on all tables, electronic markup capability, a large-format monitor, microphones, and a handheld wireless microphone.

The document camera can present images of exhibits (documents, photographs, objects, etc.) that permit the judge, attorneys, witness, and jury to view the images simultaneously. It also allows the operator to zoom in to view the most critical areas of the exhibit. Please be aware, however, that the document camera is a visual presenter so it cannot be used to play any form of audio.

The system also features a touch-sensitive monitor at the lectern and witness stand that allows the displayed image to be electronically marked up.  These touch-sensitive screens are extremely sensitive and should be used with care.

All courtrooms have device inputs (HDMI and VGA) in the First Street and Roybal Courthouses. VGA inputs only in other courthouses at the lectern and counsel tables for attorneys to use when presenting evidence from a laptop or other personal device. These inputs are switched using a control panel by the person at the lectern, or technology cart to control the image that appears on the courtroom monitors. The judge and courtroom deputy, however, control whether that image is displayed to the jury. Counsel must confer with the judge as to what evidence will be shown on the equipment prior to its display.

Attorneys must provide their own technical assistance in preparing presentations. The Court is not responsible for troubleshooting compatibility issues arising from equipment (e.g. laptops, personal devices) not supplied by the Court.

In the event the Court's equipment malfunctions, do not attempt to troubleshoot the problem. Inform the courtroom deputy who will contact the Audio/Visual department for technical assistance.

Western (Los Angeles)

Counsel are encouraged to contact the courtroom deputy for courtroom availability, to arrange a time to train on how to use the court-provided audio/visual equipment, and with any requests for special equipment. Please book appointments with courtroom technology technicians by phone at (213) 894-3061, or emailing us at [email protected], one to three weeks in advance of, but no later than 3 days before, a court proceeding.

Edward R. Roybal Federal Building:

• High-definition document camera
• One laptop input at each counsel table and lectern (HDMI, VGA with 3.5mm audio input)
• Two outlet USB chargers and one AC power outlet located at each counsel table
• Touch-sensitive annotation monitors located at the lectern and witness stand
• Assisted listening and interpreting device
• Videoconference
• Teleconference
• Blu-ray/DVD player (Plays properly authored DVDs)
• Apple TV for screen mirroring use
• 65" large-format video display located at end of the jury box
• 22" monitors on counsel tables and at lectern 
• 18" gooseneck microphone on each table

First Street Courthouse:

Eastern (Riverside)

Counsel must contact the courtroom deputy to schedule a time to test and/or train on the equipment in the courtroom or with any requests for special equipment.

George E. Brown Jr Federal Building:

District Judge Courtroom

• High-definition document camera
• One laptop input at each counsel table (VGA with 3.5mm audio input)
• Touch-sensitive annotation monitors located at the lectern and witness stand
• Assisted listening and interpreting device
• Videoconference (mobile unit) 
• Teleconference
• DVD player (Plays properly authored DVDs)
• VHS Player 
• 54" and 55" large-format video displays at either end of the jury box 
• 19" monitors on counsel tables and at lectern 
• 18" gooseneck microphone on each table

Magistrate Judge Courtroom

• High-definition document camera
• One laptop input at each counsel table (VGA with 3.5mm audio input)
• Touch-sensitive annotation monitors located at the lectern and witness stand
• Assisted listening and interpreting device
• Videoconference (mobile unit) 
• Teleconference
• DVD player (Plays properly authored DVDs)
• VHS Player 
• 54" and 55" large-format video displays at either end of the jury box 
• 19" monitors on counsel tables and at lectern 
• 18" gooseneck microphone on each table

Southern (Santa Ana)

Counsel must contact the courtroom deputy to schedule a time to test and/or train on the specific equipment in the courtroom or with any requests for special equipment.

Ronald Reagan Federal Building:

• High-definition document camera
• One laptop input at each counsel table (VGA with 3.5mm audio input)
• Touch-sensitive annotation monitors located at the lectern and witness stand
• Assisted listening and interpreting device
• Videoconference (mobile unit) 
• Teleconference
• DVD player (Plays properly authored DVDs)
• VHS Player 
• 54" and 55" large-format video displays at either end of the jury box 
• 19" monitors on counsel tables and at lectern 
• 18" gooseneck microphone on each table

• High-definition document camera
• One laptop input at each counsel table (VGA with 3.5mm audio input)
• Touch-sensitive annotation monitors located at the lectern and witness stand
• Assisted listening and interpreting device
• Videoconference (mobile unit) 
• Teleconference
• DVD player (Plays properly authored DVDs)
• VHS Player 
• 54" and 55" large-format video displays at either end of the jury box 
• 19" monitors on counsel tables and at lectern 
• 18" gooseneck microphone on each table

Training on use of the Court's evidence presentation equipment is available and will be conducted in the courtroom if not in use. For the Western division, reservations for training sessions are on a first-come, first-served basis and should be made as soon as possible by calling (213) 894-3061, or emailing us at [email protected]. For the Eastern and Southern divisional buildings, arrangements must be made through the courtroom deputy.

Finally, attorneys are encouraged to use the equipment made available by the Court rather than bringing their own equipment in order to minimize disruption to chambers staff and Court schedules.