Multimedia device unveiled for courtroom presentations

Putting on a multimedia display for a Lake County jury or judge just got a whole lot easier.

The 19th Judicial Circuit now has a Nomad PD2100, a portable podium, a workhorse of electronic wizardry, and three courtrooms wired to accept it.

Information specialists Joe Svoboda and Winnie Webber demonstrated the device for a luncheon meeting of the Lake County Bar Association on Wednesday.

The $22,000 podium has all the circuitry needed to project PowerPoint demonstrations, play videotapes or DVDs, or project photographs or documents on several computer screens.

The system works with a 60-inch digital wall display for jurors mounted behind the witness stand and monitors at the judge's bench and in front of the witness.

Any evidence needed to be shown during a trial can be displayed through the device, eliminating the process of taking a photo or document and handing it to each individual juror to see.

Tapes and DVDs are presented via a wireless remote the presenter operates, and a second remote allows the judge to stop or blackout a scene at any moment.

Attorneys can use their own computers through the podium to display any evidence they have prepared in advance of a trial.

Svoboda said courtrooms 201, 204 and 304 are the only ones currently set up to work with the all the Nomad's capabilities, but the machine can be used in some limited ways in other courtrooms.

Funding requests for additional podiums and monitors for other courtrooms are before the county board.

Back to school:ŒSheriff Mark Curran will be away from his office on a regular basis for about three months beginning in January.

Curran is not going to be going on a vacation, but instead will be attending the rigorous police training academy at the College of DuPage.

It is a voluntary move on Curran's part, because he was granted the full powers of a police officer in this state when he was sworn in as sheriff almost a year ago.

But he said this week it is something he wanted to do as an expression of support for the men and women who work for him.

"Every person who works as a police officer is required to attend the academy, so I decided I should go through it myself," Curran said. "The fact that I was not a police officer prior to the election was brought up during the campaign, so hopefully this will take that off the table."

It is not likely to be easy for the lawyer-turned-sheriff, because the majority of his classmates on the physical training fields will be much younger than he.

But it is a classy move on Curran's part and one that is likely to earn him an extra measure of respect from the rank and file as he demonstrates his willingness to personally connect with their experiences.

Holiday hints:ŒPolice and fire departments across the county are reminding residents to exercise caution during the holiday season.

Fire officials urge people not to overload electrical sockets with lights for decorations, and to make sure that real Christmas trees in their homes do not become overly dry.

Police want people to be on the alert for pickpockets as they go about their holiday shopping and to safeguard their personal financial information.