NCJ Number
97477
Journal
University of Miami Law Review Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1984) Pages: 590-675
Editor(s)
J A DeFoor
Date Published
1984
Length
86 pages
Annotation
This issue contains nine articles which discuss telephone hearings, telephone conferencing in criminal court cases in New Jersey and Colorado, videotaped arraignments in Florida, telephonic search warrants, implementation of Florida's 1983 Telecommunications in Evidence Act, proposed Rule of Judicial Administration 2.071, and New Mexico's experiment of teleconferenced hearings.
Abstract
The development of telephone hearings in Florida and the national evolution of this practice are described. Advantages and disadvantages of this technique are examined. The telephone hearing is found to be most useful in routine, nonevidentiary matters. One article, on the use of telephone conferencing in criminal cases in New Jersey and Colorado, finds that this procedure is a viable option in the overall scheme to increase judicial efficiency. The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure are discussed in relation to telephonic search warrants; it is concluded that such warrants may soon be available to all police officers, despite several controversial issues surrounding their use. Another article details the implementation of Florida's 1983 Telecommunications in Evidence Act; this act requires State agencies to adopt rules of procedure for conducting meetings, hearings, and workshops, and for taking evidence testimony, and argument by means of communications media technology. Proposed Rule of Judicial Administration 2.071 on the use of communication equipment in Florida courtrooms is provided, along with New Mexico's experiment using teleconferenced administrative commentary. Also discussed are hearings, which were concerned with unemployment insurance and welfare administrative appeals. Finally, the use of closed circuit television for conducting misdemeanor arraignments in Dade County, Fl., is described. Footnotes accompany each article. For individual articles, see NCJ 97478-81.