A Judge’s Perspective: The Impact of Video Conferencing on Court Proceedings
In Spring 2019, the Government planned to introduce online courtroom hearings for tax tribunals and claimants. Now, with the outbreak of coronavirus worldwide, the Government are having to act on this right away. This upheaval in the traditional legal process was planned to streamline the judicial system, introducing the option for claimants to attend their hearing while at home or work, rather than having to give up a day to travel to court.
This was all part of the Ministry of Justice’s £1 billion modernisation drive, a drive which plans to makeover the entire judicial system. For example, couples applying for divorce can now apply online. A “smart form”, which tailors questions based on the context around the marriage breakdown, will help the Ministry of Justice potentially save £250 million through a reduction in paperwork and processing time.
But how does this move towards modernisation affect the people who will experience it firsthand?
This article will draw from judicial judges apprehensions and expectations of this huge drive to embrace technology within the legal sector.