GSAMS is a two-way interactive video network. Using this technology, South Georgia attorneys "appeared" before the Supreme Court without having to make the trip to Atlanta. The Justices, seated in their Atlanta court room, were projected onto a screen.
Bonne Cella, Administrator, State Bar of Georgia, South Georgia Office, said the court experiment went well.
"Court hearings will be conducted this way again because the court wants to keep up with technology and to provide good service to the public and to State Bar members," Cella said. "ABAC was chosen as the site for the hearings because we knew that the staff would be accommodating, and they were. Also, the court is interested in education and wants to be accessible to students. When we opened this State Bar Office, the court came to Tifton and actually held court at ABAC as part of the grand opening celebrations. We want to thank President Mike Vollmer and his staff for their help with this project and look forward to working with ABAC again."
Benham said the Court was extremely pleased with the manner in which the session was held and the professional conduct of the lawyers in the proceedings.
"We feel the session was fantastically successful and that this experience will go a long way in setting an example for future court sessions," Benham said. "We appreciate the cooperation of not only the parties but also that of Abraham Baldwin College and the State Bar of Georgia. We have been concerned for some time about the public's trust and confidence in the legal system because of the enormous cost and delay. Hearings such as the one held through video-conferencing between Atlanta and Tifton will allow us to handle legal matters quickly, inexpensively, and fairly."
Dr. Caroline Helms, Chair in ABAC's Division of Social Science, said ABAC was very fortunate to be chosen as the site for the court's first hearing via GSAMS.
"The hearing allowed some of our criminal justice students and several faculty members to observe the state Supreme Court in session," Helms said. "That is an opportunity that few of us would ever have otherwise. I think the students found it fascinating. Also, Amy Willis [Coordinator of Instructional Technology at ABAC] did a great job working with the court's staff to set up the GSAMS arrangement."
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