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The UP College of Law holds a webinar on building a more resilient court system, and how lawyers and judges should cope with the pandemic limitations. One suggestion is revise trial process, to minimize time in court, and number of people required to attend @rapplerdotcom
Ex-SC spox Ted Te says there must be a review of legislation so that some crimes will have civil punishments instead of penal punishments.
Te: This pandemic has proven that a synchronous legal assistance is possible. This pandemic also showed us that some processes hindered, rather than helped.
Prof JJ Disini says a difficult decision re technology is if the court will opt for cloud-based solutions, meaning data stored in the internet, or physical hardware storage.
Prof Disini says court users must be allowed to identify their own technology solutions depending on their own circumstance, and which they can enter into binding agreements with the court.
Prof Disini also says the analog processes must remain, to minimize the need to train court personnel, but to layer that with technological processes like electronic service of summons and orders.
Prof Disini also says that in video conferencing hearings, there must be relaxed rules on venue, in that lawyers do not have to fly to the area of jurisdiction just to get on a call.
How do virtual hearings affect media coverage of public hearings? Profs Disini and Te pointing out the complication that although physicial hearings are public, no cameras and recording device are allowed.
Prof Te says privacy is a matter that needs to be discussed as the courts move forward with integrating technology in court processes
Will the move to digitize court processes widen the gap between poor and rich litigants? Prof Disini said access to technology, like an internet cafe for lawyers, could be free to indigent litigants.
Prof Jay Batongbacal: The judicial system is about to change.
Prof Batongbacal: There is a digital divide, access to technology is not even. That is why courts must be facilitative (of the needs and capacities) rather than prescriptive.
