Court Closures & Remote Hearings – are they here to stay?
The UK government has announced that they plan to close 77 more courts by 2025. This is not only made possible by the emergence of remote hearings but might indicate their permanence post-pandemic.
During the pandemic, remote hearings took place so that the justice system could carry on uninterrupted but as we’ve seen in other industries, remote technology is apparently here to stay. Earlier this year the Lord Chief of Justice for England & Wales, Lord Burnett laid out some long-awaited protocols for remote hearings. He stated that Crown court hearings should be remote “where it is lawful and in the interest of justice to do so.”
However, some experts have expressed concern about junior lawyers and solicitors who are potentially being overlooked on remote hearings with their active participation being compromised.
Alongside this, the Law Society has voiced their concerns that court closures will have a negative impact on vulnerable court users and a lack of formal court buildings in the UK could threaten legal authority and reputation.
The proposed solution is to deal with this matter case-by-case to decide whether a sentencing hearing should be remote depending on the seriousness of the charge and other factors like the age, disability, caring responsibility, and experience of witnesses and parties involved.
77% of lawyers said remote hearings were an acceptable alternative to have beyond the pandemic. However, Government research from the end of last year suggests that whilst the public prefer remote hearings, professionals have noticed a deterioration in the level of respect they are given as a result.
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