Virtual Justice: Enhancing accessibility, participation and procedural justice in family courts and tribunals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Perceptions of accessibility and fairness are central to civil order and the legitimacy of the legal system and state. COVID-19 and social distancing rules have forced radical changes upon the justice system with many trials now having to take place online from participants' homes with no one being present in a physical courtroom. There is currently no online support to prepare members of the public for appearing in court from their own home or to guide them around these new virtual spaces. This poses a number of challenges to the validity of the process with many interest groups expressing concern about due process and the dangers of alienating court users from the process. There are particular concerns about the ability of the digitally impoverished, vulnerable and other lay users to participate effectively in this new way of doing justice. Working in partnership with Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service this project will draw on existing research and extensive consultation with the public, court staff, interest groups, practitioners and policy makers to produce a central repository of good practice materials and a series of audiovisual guides. It will be guided by the five key goals of enhancing technical competence; improving understanding of court processes; supporting court users in navigating the alternative geographies and sense of time in virtual space; engendering a sense of journeys to and from civic space; and promoting dignity and gravitas in virtual court proceedings.