As reported by Katy Ruth Camp of the Marietta Daily Journal, the new Cobb County Superior Courthouse is stunning and fits in so nicely with its surroundings. Cobb County has been the scene of many important personal injury jury trials and it is nice to see that the facilities are being kept state of the art.
As a trial attorney who handles a lot of cases in Cobb County (with many clients who reside in Marietta as well as Atlanta and the surrounding areas), I am grateful for the new courthouse, as it provides a more efficient and secure environment for our Cobb County trials. As an added bonus, the building is a fine architectural example of how a modern structure can be built to satisfy today’s mandates of court security (think bullet-proof walls and security checkpoints leading to Judges Chambers) and efficiency, yet look like an old courthouse from the outside so that it fits in with its surroundings. Not a small feat.
I am proud of what they have done in Marietta. I hope this style is extended to other courthouses in the metropolitan Atlanta area such as the court complexes in Fulton County (downtown Atlanta), Gwinnett County, DeKalb County (downtown Decatur), and Clayton County.
Since 1995, when I was sworn in as a new attorney, I have tried cases in Rockdale, Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb County and many other jurisdictions. Newer courthouses usually incorporate new technologies such as wi-fi and Elmos in the courtroom, which allows the trial lawyers to try their case more effectively. Most trials now include Powerpoint presentations, accident re-enactments, google earth, iPads, and many other types of technology which help us, as trial lawyers, to explain the case to the jury in a way that makes sense and is easily understood.
Use of technology to display evidentiary exhibits or illustrative aids changes the dynamic in a courtroom in productive and helpful ways. For judges, technology can increase opportunities to control the proceedings, set time limits, and decide matters quickly and without undue delay. For jurors, it can increase the sense of participation and improve the understanding of the facts. For lawyers, the faster pace, coupled with the need to respond to visual cues for objections as well as the traditional oral cues, puts a premium on a concise case theory and thorough preparation. This benefits the lawyers, as they can prepare the case presentation before hand and do not have to rely on written notes to present to the jury.
Robert J. Fleming has been handling wrongful death cases, dental malpractice, bus accidents, car accident cases and premises injury cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 20 years. He practices in and around the Atlanta, Georgia area including handling lawsuits in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Cobb and other counties and nearby cities including Alpharetta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Duluth, Decatur, Doraville, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, and Smyrna. If you have been seriously injured in a car accident and would like discuss your case, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.
Source: Katy Ruth Camp: “Majestic New Courthouse is a Model of Efficiency in the Era of Greater Security,” The Marietta Daily Journal.