Courts in England and Wales may soon begin the resolution of civil cases online, removing the need for parties involved to be physically present, a UK Civil Justice Council (CJC) report released Monday suggested.
According to the paper, judges would examine the documents for such cases online and contact the parties via phone or Skype. The main aim of the proposal is to cut costs of the judicial system and to resolve civil cases more quickly and efficiently, the report said.
Civil Justice Council report by @richardsusskind recommending online court for resolution of small claims disputes http://t.co/r4gUToup4m
— Judicial Office (@JudiciaryUK) February 16, 2015
"There is no doubt that online dispute resolution [ODR] is an area with enormous potential for meeting the needs of the system and its users in the 21st century," head of civil justice in England and Wales Lord John Anthony Dyson said in the foreword of the study.
Online trials will apply only to cases involving less than 25,000 pounds ($40,000) and to certain family cases. The report cited the example of online market eBay, whose users settle as many as 60 million disputes each year online.
The authors of the report hope the procedure will be introduced by 2017.
