Cook County Circuit Court Modern Courtroom System

Level-1 modernized Cook County Circuit Court’s Courtroom 21 with advanced AV, IT, and remote systems for efficient, transparent trials.

Spanning Chicago and 126 neighboring communities, the Circuit Court of Cook County is not only the largest judicial system in Illinois but also one of the busiest in the world, with over a million cases heard each year. With nearly 400 judges serving 5.2 million residents, the court system demands cutting-edge technology to support its expansive and complex operations. 

In its commitment to modernize courtroom operations and explore the future of legal technology, the Circuit Court retained Level-1 Global Solutions to design and implement a suite of cutting-edge IT enhancements for Courtroom 21 along with Dell Technologies as the primary contractor. The project served as a proof of concept for how technology can enhance accuracy, efficiency, and transparency in legal proceedings. 

What We Delivered 

• Design and implementation of fully automated courtroom AV systems, including ceiling-mounted cameras, voice-activated video switching, and built-in video deposition playback capabilities 
• Integration of remote video arraignment functionality, enabling secure, two-way communications with offsite facilities 
• Real-time or recorded televised evidence presentation, with support for analog optical disk storage and multimedia displays 
• Installation of jury computers equipped for text, graphics, and television viewing, ensuring dynamic engagement with trial content 
• Digital research stations at the bench and counsel tables, including LEXIS legal research access for on-demand case law retrieval 
• Concurrent, real-time court reporting, with individualized transcript markup capability for attorneys 
• Custom disaster recovery and infrastructure solutions to support business continuity and minimize downtime 
• Project management consulting, overseeing system integration, user interface design, and cross-functional training for courtroom staff 

Level-1’s work on Courtroom 21 represents a milestone in courtroom modernization, showcasing how intelligent technology can support the needs of judges, attorneys, jurors, court reporters, and the public. From enhanced legal research and remote participation to real-time transcription and audiovisual evidence sharing, this forward-looking courtroom sets the stage for a more connected, efficient, and transparent judicial process.