For Immediate Release

(ANNAPOLIS, MD-March 11, 2002)  The District Court's first integrated digital courtroom recording system, which was installed in the Glen Burnie courthouse in October 2001, is a success, according to Patricia Platt, Chief Clerk of the District Court of Maryland.  Since then, five more systems have been installed, in Annapolis, Prince George's, Kent and Montgomery Counties.  This new technology, which is part of the District Court's ongoing commitment to improving the effectiveness of its operations, will allow digital recordings of court proceedings to be integrated with court data records in the future.

This system, which converts analog audio into a digital audio file, offers many advantages over the previous technology used by Maryland's District Court, making it much easier to tag, play, archive, and transport audio court records.  Much like a music compact disc compared to an audio cassette, finding and playing back particular parts of the digital recording is much easier than it is using an analog tape recording.  Court records of any proceeding can be duplicated on a standard audio CD or a data CD that can be played back on a Windows-based PC.  In addition, the new system offers improved sound quality, and positions the court to move into foreign language support in the future.  The system was developed by CourtSmart Digital Systems, Inc.

The installation of this digital court recording system in all 107 District Court courtrooms
statewide is expected to be completed within the next 12 months.  Baltimore County is slated as
the next site to receive the equipment.

"Depending on how the technology is used, this system has the potential to improve the
effectiveness of almost anyone who interacts with Court information," said Patti Platt, Chief
Clerk of the District Court of Maryland. "We are very pleased to avail ourselves of this new
technology, and look forward to increasing the efficiency and quality of District Court record
keeping, and the District Court's courtroom recording capabilities.  This is important for a court
that handles more than 2 million cases per year."

For further information about the District Court of Maryland, visit their website at
www.courts.state.md.us/district/index.html.