Use Technology for Court Innovation

Anne Wallace (second left) delivering public lecture on Court Innovation and Technology at the office of Badilag. She was accompanied by DG of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana (leftmost) and Leisha Lister from FCoA (rightmost). 

Jakarta | badilag.net/english

Technology can be used as a force for change in courts. Technology can also be made as a signifier of innovation and a tool for the well-trained analytical mind.

Those statements were made by Anne Wallace, assistant professor from University of Canberra, who with Leisha Lister, Executive Adviser of the Family Court of Australia, gave a speech on Court Innovation and Technology at the office of Directorate General of Religious Courts Body in Jakarta on Thursday (22/7/2010).

Speaking before the leaderships and representatives of Religious Courts from Jakarta and the surrounding, Anne Wallace emphasized the involvement of all elements in courts, especially judges, to bring about innovation in the judiciary.

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The effective use of IT in the justice system, she said quoting from Victorian Parliamentary Law Reform Committee, can entirely change the relationship between courts, governments and the public. Technology can ensure that everyday legal issues are processed without the need for expensive legal advice or long court processes.

“The objective of the use of IT is to provide an accessible, inexpensive, transparent and efficient system, which is responsive to the needs of the community,” Anne Wallace said.

The use of technology in courts, Wallace added, will produce a number of valuable goals in terms of accessibility, transparency, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced performance.

Leadership in courts determines the success of IT use. “Based on my experience, the success of the use of technology depends on the leadership of the courts as happening in a number of countries,” she said. “I would suggest that judges directly involve in the use of IT in courts.”

Responding to Anne Wallace’s speech, Director General of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana, said that no more excuses for religious courts’ judges to be not involved in the use of IT in their offices.

DG of Badilag said that thanks to the supports of the Family Court of Australia and AusAID, Indonesia’s religious courts  are now more aware and better trained in using IT to support client service and guarantee accessibility and transparency. (c)