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Today's Tech: How A Federal District Court Judge Uses Technology [Above The Law]
[October 30, 2014]

Today's Tech: How A Federal District Court Judge Uses Technology [Above The Law]


(Above The Law Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A few months ago, I shared how Judge Richard Wesley of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit uses his iPad as part of his day-to-day routine, making him a more efficient and effective jurist. Well, he's not the only technologically proficient judge. Janet T. Neff, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Michigan, knows her way around technology, too.



Her interest in technology is nothing new. It began nearly 40 years ago and she hasn't looked back since. "I first became interested in computers in the late 1970s when I was working as a Commissioner at the Michigan Supreme Court. Westlaw and Lexis were just beginning to come out with their services and I was assigned to talk to their representatives. I was intrigued with their services but we didn't do much with it at that time," she explains. "Many years later, when I was on the Michigan Court of Appeals, our clerk’s office was very invested in using technology and — almost as an afterthought — they asked if any of the judges were interested in it. I was the only judge who was. I was given a ‘dumb terminal’ and was later part of the committee that addressed the Y2K issue. So it was an evolutionary process and then when I came to the federal court, where the IT resources were even better, I began to utilize technology further." Initially her use of technology as a federal judge was an exploratory endeavor undertaken by Judge Neff and her entire team. But as they added new tools and uses into their repertoire, the benefits quickly became evident: "My JA [judicial assistant] is far more tech savvy than I'll ever be, as are my law clerks. So we had this synergy in my chambers where we were all interested in the possibilities of technology, such as how we could become as paperless as possible. From there our technology use morphed into other things, like the task system we developed with our IT department. I think it's the neatest thing since sliced bread! It's so easy to use and provides such a great way to communicate with my staff without having to send memos and paper back and forth while creating a really good trail so things don't fall through the cracks." Her use of technology doesn't end with the task management system. It continues both in her office and on the bench, with the overall goal of increasing efficiency and communication. She describes her office technology set up as follows: "I prefer to have a lot of in-chambers conferences with lawyers because it's less informal and encourages a better exchange of information. During Rule 16 conferences, for example, I have a Rule 16 checklist on my laptop, and also running in the background is an ebook for the case prepared by my clerks that includes everything filed in the case from the docket sheet, the complaint, the answers, any motions that are pending and, most importantly for Rule 16 purposes, the Joint Status Report that the parties have collaborated on. That way I can talk with them and have it in front of me and can then finalize a Case Management Order based on their input." She also uses a number of different types of technology when working in her office: "On my primary desk is a PC and a separate monitor that allows me to have two documents open at the same time. For instance, if I'm preparing for a sentencing hearing, I'll have my sentencing checklist in front of me and can also access my sentencing ebook which has all the relevant case-related documents in one place. And, I keep my iPad at my stand-up desk and from there I handle routine matters such as responding to emails." When in court, she also utilizes multiple screens and devices: "On the bench I use a laptop with a second screen for almost every proceeding. I also have a separate iPad which streams the court reporter's input in real time so I essentially don't have to take notes during proceedings on the bench. And, if I have a question or want to go back and look at something, it's right there on the iPad. There's also a screen for electronic evidence as it comes in. So right now when I’m on the bench I'm surrounded by different monitors, but in the near future we're getting a system where the laptops and monitors are under a glass screen on the desk so I can see them but they won't block my view." Although Judge Neff is a huge proponent of using technology and maintains that it greatly simplifies and streamlines her daily workflow, she admits that there are minor drawbacks: "One issue I encounter is that I sometimes find myself staring at the screen in front of me to the exclusion of looking at the lawyers and parties. But hopefully placing the screens under the glass desktop will help to alleviate that problem." Her advice to lawyers and judges who have not yet fully embraced technology? Get started today — and don't be afraid to ask for help. "I think that for most lawyers and judges technology isn't necessarily intuitive for them. It certainly isn't for me. The trick is to find people who can teach you and help you fight through the frustration you encounter when using something that is counterintuitive to how you think. But if you want to improve your life through technology, the frustration is well worth it." So that's how a federal judge uses technology to increase efficiency on the bench. As always, if you or an attorney you know is using technology in a creative or unusual way in your law firm, drop me an email at [email protected]. I'm always looking for new attorneys — or judges — to feature in this column.

Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York attorney and Director of Business and Community Relations at MyCase, web-based law practice management software. She’s been blogging since 2005, has written a weekly column for the Daily Record since 2007, is the author of Cloud Computing for Lawyers, co-authors Social Media for Lawyers: the Next Frontier, and co-authors Criminal Law in New York. She’s easily distracted by the potential of bright and shiny tech gadgets, along with good food and wine. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikiblack and she can be reached at [email protected].


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