An attorney stands, clicks to the first exhibit, and waits. The jury monitors stay dark. Someone checks a cable, someone else reboots a laptop, and twelve jurors watch the clock instead of the evidence. Every trial lawyer has seen a version of that moment, and nobody wants to live through it twice.
An attorney stands, clicks to the first exhibit, and waits. The jury monitors stay dark. Someone checks a cable, someone else reboots a laptop, and twelve jurors watch the clock instead of the evidence. Every trial lawyer has seen a version of that moment, and nobody wants to live through it twice.
John Schmitzer II has spent more than 13 years making sure that moment never happens. At Schmitzer Video & Trial Services, courtroom AV setup is part of the case itself, not an afterthought. Screens, speakers, and signal paths get tested long before opening statements, often more than once.
Different people in the courtroom need to see the same evidence from very different angles.
Sound problems are harder to hide than visual ones. A deposition clip that jurors cannot hear is a clip they cannot weigh. Courtroom audio often includes lectern and witness microphones, playback speakers, and assistive listening devices for jurors with hearing needs.
The source is where every image begins. That usually means a presentation laptop running trial software such as TrialDirector or OnCue. Document cameras also play a role for physical exhibits that were never scanned.
A switcher decides which source reaches the screens. Cables and adapters carry the signal the rest of the way. The connection types in play often include:
Some trials also need cameras, conferencing hardware, and a stable internet connection. These pieces support remote experts and hybrid testimony.
Everything starts on the presentation laptop. Files need clear names, consistent formats, and an order that matches the trial plan. A disorganized source device slows down every exhibit call that follows.
Plaintiff and defense often share the same screens. A switcher lets control move from one side to the other with a single button. That avoids the awkward scene of attorneys unplugging and replugging cables while the jury watches.
Once a source is selected, the signal is distributed to every display. Resolution settings must match, or some monitors will crop or stretch the evidence.
In many courtrooms, video clips carry audio that has to travel on its own path. That sound must reach the speakers at a volume jurors can hear without distortion. Levels are set during testing, not during testimony.
Most failures happen at a handful of predictable spots:
Installed systems can be excellent, but they come with quirks. One input may be dead. The switcher may only accept certain resolutions. Testing the room in advance reveals these details before they become problems.
When a room offers little, Schmitzer brings the system in. That can include:
The courtroom's jury monitors may work well while the audio needs support. Portable gear fills the gaps without replacing what already functions.
Courtrooms belong to the court, so bringing in equipment requires permission. That process often involves several people:
This is the time for a site visit and a walkthrough of the courtroom. The goal is to learn what the room offers and what it lacks. Tasks at this stage include:
Files get loaded and tested on the actual presentation equipment. Synced deposition clips are played start to finish. Any format that will not open cleanly is converted now, while there is still time.
Equipment arrives, cables get run and taped down, and monitors are positioned. Then comes the step people skip: sitting in the jury box. Checking the view from a juror's chair catches glare and blocked angles.
The last half hour before court is for confirmation, not construction. Displays, audio, and playback are checked one final time. The 30-minute pre-court setup post covers that window step by step.
Some courts allow equipment to stay in place overnight. Others require a full teardown every evening. Either way, the system is reset and retested before each new day begins.
A second laptop carries identical files in the identical order. If the primary machine freezes, the backup can take over in moments. The jury sees a brief pause instead of a long delay.
One missing piece of hardware should never stall a trial. The kit usually includes:
Courtroom Wi-Fi is unpredictable, and some buildings restrict it entirely. Every exhibit and clip lives locally on the presentation machines.
Remote witnesses rely on connections nobody in the courtroom fully controls. A backup plan might include a secondary internet source or a pre-arranged phone fallback. Agreeing on that plan in advance keeps a dropped call from derailing the day.
These issues usually come from mismatched resolutions or aspect ratios. Testing every display with actual trial files catches them early. Locking laptop display settings keeps them from coming back.
Feedback happens when microphones sit too close to speakers. Silence usually means a muted channel or the wrong output selected. Labeling each channel and confirming outputs before trial solves both.
A video that played fine in the office may not play on courtroom equipment. Converting files to reliable formats ahead of time removes that risk. Every file is opened on the trial machine before it matters.
Windows, overhead lights, and poorly placed monitors can wash out evidence. Viewing the screens from the jury box and the bench exposes these problems.
Laptops love to restart for updates at the worst possible time. A few simple settings changes keep that from happening. Prevention steps include:
Yes. Built-in systems are used whenever they perform reliably. Portable gear is added only where the room needs support.
Ideally, a walkthrough happens two to three weeks before trial. Final setup usually happens the evening before or early on the first morning. Shorter timelines are possible, and they get the same level of care.
Backup equipment and mirrored files are already in the room. Most issues are resolved in moments, often before the jury notices anything happened.
Yes. Schmitzer supports cases across Michigan and in other states, including multi-state and federal matters.
Yes. Hybrid trials are common now. Remote testimony equipment is built into the same courtroom system, so transitions between witnesses stay smooth.
Trial lawyers carry enough weight in a courtroom. They are managing witnesses, reading jurors, and adjusting strategy by the minute. Worrying about a frozen monitor or a silent clip should never be part of that load.
The best AV support feels almost invisible. Evidence appears when it is called, sound fills the room, and backups sit ready without drawing attention. That kind of calm comes from preparation done days and weeks ahead. It lets the attorney walk into court thinking only about the argument.
If a trial date is on the calendar, now is a great time to plan the technology behind it. John is happy to answer questions, schedule a site visit, or help map out what your case needs.
Have a trial or deposition coming up? Tell us about your case and we will help you get courtroom ready.
Request a consultation →More than a decade of legal video, trial presentation, and courtroom technology experience across Michigan.
Meet John →Trial presentation, legal video depositions, courtroom technology, and remote testimony support.
View services →Trial presentation, legal video, courtroom technology, and remote testimony support for litigation teams across Michigan.
Home base in St. Clair Shores, with same-day reach across Southeast Michigan and travel statewide.
Tell us about your case. We'll bring the technology, the preparation, and the calm.
