The invoice tabled by the Ministry of Justice is in Parliament to pave the best way for digital recording of court docket proceedings – That is an EU-funded venture
Njoint invoice offering for the recording of legal proceedings earlier than the Cypriot courts was tabled within the Parliament by the Ministry of Justice. The aim of the invoice is to amend article 173 of the Felony Process Legislation, Chap. 155, with the intention to present the potential of recording the legal proceedings performed earlier than the court docket, in addition to the minutes and proof notes of the court docket are saved in a digital file.
As famous within the introductory report of the invoice, the modification is taken into account applicable, to be in step with the implementation and introduction of the Audio Recording System within the Cypriot Courts, a venture funded by the European Fee by the Structural Reforms Help Program (SRSS) and has been included within the Restoration and Resiliency Plan.
It appears, nonetheless, that regardless of the voices of the authorized world and the common recognition of the necessity to digitize the practices, the method strikes at a snail's tempo.
Indicatively, we should always point out that, on September 24, 2019, the Supreme Court docket in its announcement referred to the completion of the examine of the introduction of the system in query, which was certainly performed by the pressing process. The stated announcement said: “On September 2, 2019, the examine on the introduction of an Audio Recording System of Proceedings within the Cypriot Courts (Feasibility Research on the Introduction of Digital Audio Recording (DAR) in Court docket) was accomplished inside 6 months, with the pressing process Proceedings in Cyprus). The venture was funded by the European Fee by the Structural Reform Help Program (SRSS) and carried out by the Irish Institute of Public Legislation (IPA). The technical specs of the system had been assigned by the European Fee to the Greek firm Telmaco”.
Since then, greater than 5 years have handed, till the time comes for the related invoice to be earlier than the Parliament.
Final June, the Minister of Justice, Marios Hartsiotis, spoke concerning the digitization of court docket information. Talking at an occasion on “Justice, Legislation and Order in Cyprus”, the minister stated: “The Digital Audio Recording of Court docket Periods is being promoted, with a timeline for the implementation of the venture in 2025”.
Interface with e-justice
The preliminary planning and design for the digital recording of proceedings within the courts was a part of the broader digital transition of the Judiciary and the much-discussed e-justice system. After the well-known occasions and wreck that occurred to this technique, it appears that evidently, with the submitting of the invoice by the Authorized Service, the best way is opened to advertise the DAR (digital audio recording). Extra particulars of the system and if there may be the technological chance and alternative to interface with i-justice will in all probability be given throughout the dialogue of the matter within the competent parliamentary committee.
Nevertheless, a number of factors stay to be clarified for the digital recording of the proceedings, equivalent to: how the immediately events (judges, legal professionals, public prosecutors, and so forth.) could have entry, how a lot time will likely be required for his or her preparation, if for a while the observance of the proceedings will likely be performed in parallel with the brand new technique and the “conventional” one by the use of a stenographer, and so forth.
The legal professionals had been ready for it
The digitization of court docket information is a course of that legal professionals have been clamoring for for years. The truth is, prior to now the Pan-Cypriot Bar Affiliation had additionally despatched related letters to the President of the Republic stressing the necessity for the implementation of Digital Audio Recording and the institution of distant hearings by way of the web (ODR) for circumstances the place it’s not required to listen to testimony.
Regardless of assurances and stories every now and then to advertise the digital recording of proceedings, the authorized world is ready for this transition as it’s anticipated to enhance and simplify time-consuming procedures, which can consequently assist save worthwhile judicial time.
