Florida Judge Uses Meta Quest 2 VR for First Time in Court to Assess Self-Defense Claim

Jan 2, 2025, 07:40 PM

In a groundbreaking move, a Florida judge has allowed the use of virtual reality (VR) in court to aid in understanding the perspective of a defendant in a criminal case. Broward County Judge Andrew Siegel used a Meta Quest 2 VR headset to experience a simulation of an alleged crime from the viewpoint of Miguel Albisu, a wedding venue owner charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The VR simulation, marking the first use of such technology in a U.S. court, was created to illustrate Albisu's defense that his actions were in self-defense under Florida's Stand-Your-Ground laws. This simulation was presented during a pre-trial hearing, and its admittance could influence whether the case proceeds to a jury trial in February.