The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has set up a committee to oversee the development of rules for online proceedings in selected courts.
Named the Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC), it will cover civil and family courts along with tribunals, and also work on data and behavioural standards for online dispute resolutions before cases go to court.
It will be chaired by Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos, who commented: “The OPRC will oversee the creation of an end-to-end digital journey allowing people to resolve their disputes more quickly and efficiently. It will provide the necessary governance for the digital justice system as it develops.”
Other members of the committee are Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division, Sir Keith Lindblom, senior president of tribunals, legal expert Brett Dixon, expert in the lay advice sector Sarah Stephens, and technology expert Gerard Boyers.
Evolving technologies
Justice Minister Lord Bellamy said: “It is vital that digital court processes are governed by rules more suited to evolving technologies, and the creation of this committee secures the government’s longstanding commitment to leading the way in making this a reality.
“The work of the OPRC will help make online court and tribunal services more accessible, encouraging more people to resolve their disputes early and helping them get the timely and specialist support they need.”
The committee is being constituted under the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 and its first meeting will be on 26 June.
