WINNEMUCCA — Until recently, when witnesses needed to draw a diagram in Union Township Justice Court to support their testimony, they used a dry erase marker and a white board.   It was not the most efficient way to do business.

Last week new equipment was installed that will give the court a Whiteboard more in keeping with the times.

Humboldt County Network Engineer JD Ames explained the Whiteboard will give the court versatility it did not have before.  For example,  paper documents – including maps -- that in the past would have been passed around the court or posted on a tripod, will now be electronically projected onto the Whiteboard for all to see – increasing efficiency.

The judge will have a document camera that allows the court to insert a document and have it posted, as well. More importantly, if a witness has to draw a diagram he or she can simply use the electronic tablet from the witness stand.

Ames said, “It’s more than a white board; it’s a super Whiteboard.”

Additionally, a full video conferencing unit was installed.  Justice Court has had the ability for some time to video conference, but it required the monitor to be rolled from one court to another.

That unit will now be installed in the court.

Judge Gene Wambolt explained video conferencing has saved rural taxpayers considerable sums of money.  In the old days when expert witnesses came from Reno to testify the taxpayers were charged for travel expenses.

Worse, there were only so many experts to testify for all of northern Nevada, so there were times when cases would start to stack up.

New technology allows the same expert to stay in the comfort of the of the Washoe County Crime Lab and testify for Humboldt County in one hour and Elko County in the next – with no travel expenses.

While the new technology saves money, it cost the taxpayer – nothing.

The approximate $37,000 for the new equipment came from the administrative assessment fees charged to defendants coming through justice court.