Judge Pro Tem Peggy Kittel explains some of the new electronics in her courtroom at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Building, 111 W. 11th St. The new devices are expected to make court proceedings smoother and more organized. Kittel's courtroom was the first to receive the upgrades, and other courtrooms will be made over as the budget allows.

Douglas County District Judge Pro Tem Peggy Kittel used to look out over a cramped, rectangular courtroom where she made do with outdated electronics.

Not anymore.

Renovation wrapped up last month on a more spacious, 21st century courtroom that’s packed with the latest electronic aids.

“It’s like night and day,” Kittel said. “It’s better for me, the attorneys and the audience. It’s much more professional.”

Kittel’s was the first courtroom in the Douglas County Judicial & Law Enforcement Center to get the new high-tech look. The courtroom is used for first appearances by people charged with crimes. It is also home to traffic and juvenile courts and child support hearings.

The first-floor courtroom was enlarged and reconfigured as part of a $740,000 project that included an expansion of office space for the district attorney’s office. About half of the district attorney staff moved to the second floor.

Last fall, Administrative Judge Robert Fairchild announced plans to update the electronics and computer equipment in two courtrooms at a cost of more than $57,000. Kittel’s was updated because her courtroom was already undergoing a physical renovation. Fairchild’s was the second courtroom to get the updated electronics.

Installation was recently completed. The long-range goal is to eventually update all seven courtrooms.

Now, the courtrooms feature new 50- to 60-inch plasma flat screen televisions mounted on the wall. The televisions are placed so everyone in the courtroom can see them. Evidence such as photographs, DVDs and other videos can be presented on the big screens. Large speakers make audio easier to hear, Fairchild said. Before, smaller televisions on stands were used.

“We would have to turn the TVs a certain way for the jury to see, and then the attorneys and the judge might not be able to see it,” Fairchild said. “We’re just trying to make it so everyone can see better.”

A podium used by attorneys contains a document camera that can be used to show information on the big screen. A small computer screen on the podium allows attorneys to use a finger or stylus to make marks on the screen, such as underlining a place on a map or a sentence on a document. A similar control screen is on the bench for the judge to use.

In the other courtrooms, photographs often are passed by hand among jurors and attorneys. Maps and diagrams have to be placed on display boards.

“This will just make things go so much faster in court,” Fairchild said.

At their tables, attorneys can plug laptop computers into outlets and show pictures from their computers on the screen.

Fairchild said he hopes funding for upgrading one or two more courtrooms can be placed in the 2009 budget. The cost of outfitting one courtroom is about $30,000, Fairchild said. He also said some judges may not want the new equipment.

“The other judges want to see how it works first,” he said. “We’re not going to force it on anyone.”