A report by a working group of the independent Civil Justice Council, recommends an online court, where Judges would decide cases online and interact electronically with the parties.
This would run alongside the traditional court system.
I think the idea has huge potential and could be applied to the family law arena. Would it mean the end to Court hearings as we know them?
“This report is not suggesting improvements to the existing system. It is calling for a radical and fundamental change in the way that our court system deals with low value civil claims. Online Dispute Resolution is not science-fiction. There are examples from around the world that clearly demonstrate its current value and future potential, not least to litigants in person.” “On our model, an internet-based court would see judges deciding cases online, interacting electronically with parties. However, our suggested online court has a three tier structure, and we expect most disputes to be resolved at the first two stages without a judge becoming involved.” The report recommends that Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) set up a pilot as soon as is practicable with a view to rolling out an online court based on the findings.
