SEPTEMBER 2025 | 89 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL reporters can accurately transcribe the proceedings. The judges’ conference room in the Oklahoma County Courthouse lacks the technology to conduct meetings online. Their new system, which will cost $15,000, will allow judges to remotely conduct and attend meetings and other court-related functions as well as participate in continuing education and other sessions. This will allow judges to be adequately involved and will take less time away from their dockets, contributing to the efficiency of the judicial system. Finally, Tulsa County received $22,882 in funding to install an intercom system with door releases, enhancing both accessibility and security. Recent courthouse security upgrades restricted physical access to court personnel and judges, frustrating attorneys and members of the public who need information. By installing a video intercom system that allows staff to see who is requesting entry and grant access remotely, the court will streamline interactions and reduce delays in communications. The 2024 Promoting Access to Justice Survey conducted by the OBF confirms what many attorneys and judges already know: Infrastructure gaps are barriers to accessing legal services. Lawyers surveyed across all 77 counties cited delays and limited courtroom technology as key obstacles preventing clients, particularly those in rural areas, from receiving timely legal relief. The OBF, along with your support, is honored to fund these critical court grants because justice is better served when every voice in a courtroom is heard. Cases can move forward without unnecessary continuances, remote witnesses can participate, and vulnerable populations, such as those with disabilities or language barriers, can engage in the legal process more fully when the tools to support them are available and functioning properly. For more information on how you can help, please visit www.okbarfoundation.org. Ms. DeMoss is the executive director of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. New technology purchased through the OBF grants is installed in a Pittsburg County courtroom. Previously, the sound system interfered with proceedings, causing witnesses and counsel to turn off the microphones and yell to be heard. Now, this issue has been resolved to better their community. Inset: Pittsburg County received two OBF grants in 2024 to improve courtroom communications.
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