Indico Audio on trial

Denmark, July 2009

The Danish Court Administration has published information about the pilot project regarding the audio recording of the main negotiations in criminal cases.

Courts in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Helsingør, Roskilde, Glostrup and Bornholm are currently participating in an audio recording project that began in April 2008 and became fully operational on 1st of October 2008. This now means that the testimony of both witnesses and defendants in criminal cases will be admitted directly - without dictation from the judge - in selected courtrooms that have installed the technical equipment.

The courts official records will state that the statements have been submitted by audio recording and only where the case is appealed or if the prosecution or the defence requests a transcript, will a summary explanation be provided and the judge can always choose to use more traditional dictation, for example where incoherent statements have been made.

Improved flow in the courtroom

"Audio recording provides greater flexibility and provides a better flow throughout the trial, because the participants do not have to listen to the judge dictating the various statements. Similarly, we can avoid the time-consuming work of transcribing what has been said in the trial itself. I would like to see all courtrooms being able to record and store audio" says Henrik Engell Rhode, Justice of the Court in Bornholm.

“ The comment below comes from one of the legal employees in the Court”, explains Henrik ;

"Now we have finally got rid of the process of writing legal papers that no one bothers to read."

Thomas Lohse, a frequent judge at the court in Glostrup, also has a positive experience with audio recording;

"I see audio recording as the way forwards. Personally I save time, and it gives a more professional flow to the court proceedings because I no longer need to take so many notes during the trial. I can also have greater visibility over what is actually happening in the courtroom."

Henrik Engell Rhode explains that the techniques above can also help to educate the transcription secretaries, who normally require considerable experience to work in the courtroom. In cases that span several days, the parties must have a transcript of the hearing to take home each day, however through the use of audio this can now be done directly from the recorded digital file after the trial finished for the day.

complete publication can be found here on page 14 (in Danish only)