about courtroom 21
Although formally unveiled in August 1993, the Courtroom 21 Project actually began about a year earlier when the Stenograph Corporation offered to create a Computer-Integrated Courtroom for the National Center for State Courts located next door to the William and Mary School of Law. Because the National Center lacked a courtroom, Jim McMillan of the Center contacted Professor Fred Lederer of the Law School. Professor Lederer agreed to support the effort, and Stenograph Corporation equipped the law school's courtroom with a multi-frame remote arraignment and visual record system and a state-of-the-art real-time transcription system. Martin Gruen, then President of Sight and Sound Solutions and, later, Applied Legal Technologies, installed the courtroom upgrade.
After about a year, the people involved in the project, most notably Martin Gruen, agreed that the experiment should be taken to the next step, and the idea of an international experimental model facility was born. The Project's "Godfather" is David Buswell, then Stenograph's representative to the Project and the person who supplied the Courtroom 21 name.
Although the Project was an instant success, no one had anticipated the degree of success or the level of activity that accompanied it. Indeed, no one had planned for any degree of financial support. Without a budget of any kind, the situation became critical. The Project owes its survival in the early days to the National Court Reporters Foundation which funded the Project's first paid staff member, Court Reporter April C. Artegian, who became the first joint Administrator and Court Record Manager. As the Project expanded and the workload increased beyond the ability of the permanent and volunteer staff members, augmented by assistance from highly talented students, the Project was again buoyed by a donation from benefactor Richard Herrmann, whose timely and critical contribution permitted the Project to hire its first full-time administrator, Carol Ely.
Although space does not permit a lengthy review of the rest of the Project's history and the many generous and talented people who have made it possible, it is imperative to acknowledge Martin Gruen's role. In his capacity as one our principal benefactors, he gave selflessly for many years to make this Project a success. Occasionally donating equipment and even making financial contributions as well, his donation of countless hours of his own valuable time made the Courtroom 21 Project possible and has sustained it. His creativity gave rise to the Court Affiliate Program in particular. We must also acknowledge Richard Herrmann, the Project's first financial benefactor. His financial support has been critical to the survival of the Project and its growth; his creativity has given rise to endeavors such as the Courtroom Information Project.
All concerned with the Project have been pleased that not only has it had the benefit of the assistance of many students, but that the Project has been able to financially support some of them. Richard Herrmann and Ferd Hauslein provided the first Courtroom 21 Fellowships. We have been honored by their support, which continues to this day.