The family courts stand on the brink of technological change that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago, according to the President of the Family Division.
In a speech to the Family Law Bar Association last week, Sir James Munby outlined five changes: an efficient electronic court diary, F-diary, will replace the current E-diary; documents will be e-mailed rather than sent in paper form so that the judge can use a laptop; the F-diary will be integrated with the electronic bundle; at some point in the future, the introduction of online issue of proceedings via a secure e-mail process; and the introduction of electronic courts.
“Perhaps the Palais de Justice of the future will, much of the time and in many places, be little more than a virtual presence on the cloud,” he said.
Sir James added that the family justice system needs to improve the way it deals with vulnerable parties and witnesses—a working party is due to publish its final report “any day now”, and both judges and advocates will be given additional training.
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