XN000022-1994-03-22 — Page 9

TUESDAY, MARCH 22,

1994

THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID SINCE LAST NOVEMBER THE JUDICIARY HAD

ALMOST LAUNCHED A BASIC COMPUTER TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR

ALL OF IT'S 170 JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND PERSONAL COMPUTERS HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO WERE INTERESTED IN USING THEM IN THEIR CHAMBERS,

"I AM DELIGHTED TO SAY THAT THE RESPONSE TO THIS COMPUTER AWARENESS DRIVE HAS BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING. IT AUGURS WELL FOR THE CHANGE IN CULTURE. THE PERSONAL COMPUTERS WILL FACILITATE JUDGES MAGISTRATES IN PREPARING JUDGMENTS AND NOTES, HE SAID.

平甲

AND

THE WORKING PARTY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT A PILOT SCHEME FOR A COMPUTERISED COURT RECORDING SYSTEM BE INTRODUCED INTO THE DISTRICT COURT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE OBJECT OF THE PILOT SCHEME IS TO OF THE BURDEN OF RECORDING THE PROCEEDINGS THUS ENABLING THEM TO CONCENTRATE ON TRIALS HEAR CASES, SIR TI LIANG EXPLAINED.

RELIEVE DISTRICT JUDGES OF A CASE IN LONGHAND,

AND HAVE MORE TIME

ΤΟ

THE CHIEF JUSTICE REVEALED THAT THE WORKING PARTY HAD ALSO

FOR CASES

TRIAL LOOKED AT THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF LISTING OF

IN THE FOR COURTS, WHICH HAS A DIRECT BEARING ON THE WAITING TIME

CASES TO COME TO TRIAL AND ON THE USE OF THE COURT'S TIME.

"THE WORKING PARTY THINKS THAT IN COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE

PARTIES IS A LISTING PROBLEM, THE FULL CO-OPERATION OF THREE

MUST. FIRST COMES THE JUDGE HIMSELF; SECOND IS THE OFFICER IN THE JUDICIARY

DOWN RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING

CASES FOR TRIAL AND ESTIMATING THE LENGTH OF TRIAL; AND, FINALLY, THE LAWYERS WHO

THE CONDUCT OF THE CASE," HE SAID.

HAVE

JUDICIARY STRESSING THAT THE

IS NOW SEEKING ΤΟ ACHIEVE A GREATER OPENNESS, ACCESSIBILITY, RESPONSIVENESS, TRANSPARENCY AND USER-FRIENDLINESS - ALL WITHIN THE CONFINES OF JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE SIR TI LIANG QUOTED A FEW EXAMPLES.

-

"FIRST, THREE COURT USERS COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN SET UP SINCE LAST OCTOBER TO ADVISE ME ON THE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES IN THE CRIMINAL DIVISION, THE CIVIL DIVISION AND THE SPECIALIST TRIBUNALS. INDEED, ON ANYTHING THAT CONCERNS THE USERS COMPRISING THE LAWYERS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

HIGH

COURT

JUDGE,

"SECOND, IN RESPONSE TO WIDESPREAD CONCERNS, I APPOINTED LAST OCTOBER A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY A

TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE GIVING EVIDENCE IN COURT.

"THE WORKING GROUP HAS CONSULTED NOT JUST THE PROFESSIONALS, BUT ALSO VARIOUS PARENTS' ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS. ITS FINAL REPORT IS MORE OR LESS READY.

"THIRD, WE ARE DRAWING UP THE JUDICIARY'S THIS WILL GIVE THE STANDARDS OF SERVICE WHICH THE FROM US, HE SAID.

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PERFORMANCE PLEDGE. PUBLIC CAN EXPECT

A TELEPHONE HOTLINE WILL ALSO BE SET UP TO ASSIST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THEIR ENQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS.

/IN CONCLUSION