 Sci-Tech Lead
More than 35 judges and court administrators from Babil, Karbala, Najaf, and Qadisiyah Provinces and Mahmudiyah Qada received new laptops and a software program March 18-19 from Soldiers in the Judge Advocate Section, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. The 4th BCT computer distribution is a continuation of efforts begun by Multi-National Division - Center's Rule of Law team. The judges were also given a class on how to properly use the computers and the software. "What the computers are aimed to do is give them a procedural system that will help them go back in time and find decisions that were made," said Maj. Thomas Hurley, 4th BCT judge advocate general. "Giving them the computers will help the Iraqi judges know what exactly is going on in their courts." Prior to receiving the computers, many of the judges were still using large books to record case information. "Many of the courts that I have been to have been very low-tech," Hurley said. "They would write everything down: ‘We had court on this day and this was the outcome.' "By giving the laptops to the new judges we are hoping that they come up with a tracking system and they begin to use modern technology to conduct cases," Hurley said. Trying to find information on past cases was difficult and at times almost impossible. "With no computer in our office, it was hard to help deal with different issues of the people," said Ahmed, a former lawyer who is now a judge in the area. The one-touch search feature in the software is of particular note to the judges. "It's so easy to find information now," Ahmed said. "You just press search and get the information you were looking for." More laptops are scheduled to be delivered within the coming weeks. ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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