The use of information technology in judicial systems An Italian overwiev
By
Fulvio Sarzana di S.Ippolito- Consultant of The Italian Deputy-Minister of Justice Mr. Giuseppe Valentino
The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in judicial systems is changing the way in which courts do business, exchange information, and cooperate in Europe.
The rapid development of technology such as the Internet and the digital signature opens new scenarios for the judiciary, in particular in civil proceedings and judicial cooperation.
In particular, the use of electronic filing, the dissemination of case-law, the services available to the public on the web, the use of electronic signature compels the courts to a re-think their functions and operations.
The Minister of justice is actively developing and implementing plans for comprehensive integrated justice information systems, so called ìprocesso telematicoî. (use of information technologies in the civil proceedings)
The development of integrated justice system technologies is spreading around the country supported by the leadership supplied by Information technology general directorate of Justice and we have to thank people that works here for that.
Decisions being made right now, in these days, and during the next few years will set the course for the coming next 10 years.
Will we have an integrated system in which everyone who routinely works with the justice system has easy, cheap and quick access to accurate and relevant information.
today WE already provide a free electronic access to law and jurisprudence of the italian courts for the judges and the other people who works in the public administration.
And there is a reasonable fee for public access to electronic information( as an example The private lawyers have to pay just a minimum amount for the access.
This System is available days, nights, and weekends ( so we can works even during the week end and i donít know if thatís really good )
More, Same Courts (Rome, Milan) have today a System that offers electronic access to case dockets to retrieve such information as:
A listing of all parties and participants including judges, attorneys, and trustees
A compilation of case related information such as cause of action, nature of suit
A chronology of dates of case events entered in the case record
A claims registry
A listing of new cases each day
Judgments or case status
Types of documents filed for certain cases
Many courts offer imaged copies of documents
In the early future everyone who works with the justice system will have access to the information network of justice and will participate actively to everydayís life of a court.
Within the electronic filing weíll be able to transmit, service and storage information from home.
You can use electronic form to include pleadings, orders, affidavits and in general evidence.
just with will need only a pc (computer), an internet access, a digital signature system from home weíll be able to connect with a secure point ( a virtual secure point) that is the gateway of the network and soon we will access to the court that you chosen.
Finally we have to conclude that the right for the people to ìopen courtsî is an important constitutional rule and the information and communications technologies could help everybody to obtain a due process a law.
