Speech by the Master of the Rolls: Justice in the Digital Age

Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales delivered his Speech on the 150th Anniversary of the Technology and Construction Court – Justice in the Digital Age. 

Whilst the speech was marking the 150th Anniversary of the Technology and Construction Court, Sir Geoffrey Vos remarked in his introduction that he found it interesting that, to date, the Business and Property Courts have not been closely involved in the digitisation of Civil, Family and Tribunal cases and the work of the Online Procedure Rules Committee. A committee that Sir Geoffrey Vos chairs.

The speech covers the following topics:

• Introduction
• Current Technology
• The digital justice system
• Where do the B&PCs fit in to this growing online dispute resolution structure?
• The use of AI within a digital justice system
• The reputation of our B&PCs
• Conclusions

Sir Geoffrey Vos mentions at point 16 of his speech that he thinks it inevitable that all civil family and tribunal litigation will be undertaken through an online system. At point 22, he highlights that as Head of Civil Justice, he is endeavouring to rid the County Courts of the backlogs and delays caused by the use of paper.

Read the full speech here.