Court and Tribunal reforms Contents

Contents

Summary

1 Introduction

Development of the court and tribunal reform programme

Our inquiry into the court and tribunal reform programme

2 Digital justice processes

Views on digital justice processes

Criminal justice

Civil justice

Family justice

Tribunals

Barriers to accessing digital services

Internet usage and digital skills

Literacy barriers

Access to technology

Disadvantaged and vulnerable groups

Overcoming digital exclusion

Parallel paper processes

Assisted digital support

Legal capability

Public legal education

3 Video links and video hearings

Use of video in criminal cases

Use of video in other jurisdictions

Research on video links and video hearings

4 Court and tribunal buildings

Impact of court closures

Views of judicial office holders

Views of other witnesses

Evaluating the impact of court closures

The condition of court and tribunal buildings

Travel time to court

Supplementary provision

5 HMCTS reductions in staffing

The impact of staffing reductions

Closure of public counters at courts

Impact on staff morale

Future staff reductions

6 Open justice and the rule of law

Open justice

Preserving open justice in online and video processes

Open justice and the media

Rule of law

7 Engagement and evaluation

Stakeholder engagement

Judicial engagement in the reforms

Evaluation of the reforms

“Agile” design technique

The views of academics

8 Final Points

Conclusions and recommendations

Annex

Formal minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament




Published: 31 October 2019