Law's Architecture

As we move into the 21st century and the age of electronic filing, telepresence testimony, virtual courtrooms, hi-tech visual evidence and, perhaps more important, replacing altogether what we deem to be the authoritative and legitimate institutions of justice with new, decentralized, collaborative and community-based innovations (see eBay's Community Court)  we can only wonder what will happen to the marble pillars, the grandiose almost fascistic facades and the architecture of today's courthouses and courtrooms?  To understand where we are going (see the new Supreme Court of Singapore aka flying saucer - wacky!), we need to know where we are coming from.  To that end, check out the new (to me) Courts Information Database that aims to create a searchable database of plans, models, designs and images of US courthouses.

(thanks to Prof. Gregory More for sharing the link)

The project creates a comprehensive multimedia courts information database which provides rapid and easy access to a wide variety  of information pertaining to the design and development of US courthouses and courtrooms. This database provides rich information to evaluate and compare the courthouse and courthouse performance. It will also               serve as a multimedia navigation medium, allowing judges, staff, consultants, project managers and others to virtually see and experience courtrooms.