Five ways digital technologies are transforming courts and access to justice

Nowadays, courts look very different than they used to. More and more people around the world can access legal information online, attend hearings virtually, and receive real time notifications about cases on their phones. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift. Data shows that, between 2020 and 2021, countries adopted reforms to digitalize their courts, increasing from 62% to 88% in high-income countries, 43% to 89% in upper-middle-income countries, 26% to 53% in lower-middle-income countries, and 4% to 17% in low-income countries. As digital technologies are becoming more prevalent in justice systems worldwide, how can they be used to improve access to justice?

In our latest Prosperity Insight note, we analyze how digital technologies – like electronic case management, digital filing, remote hearings, and online legal resources – are transforming how courts operate and engage with citizens to improve judicial service delivery. Here are five key benefits we identify in our report:

1. Fast-tracking case processing: Courts are improving trial docket management and communication with users through electronic case management, case tracking, and e-filing platforms. Judges, court staff, and users can now upload and access documents and receive real-time case updates, facilitating seamless participation and faster case processing. Empirical evidence from Brazil's labor courts found that an increase in cases processed electronically reduced resolution times by 13% in adjudication and 11% in enforcement.
2. Supporting evidence-based decision making: Digital case management helps courts collect valuable data to make more informed decisions. This data allows court administrators to better allocate resources and workload by measuring and managing judges’ performance, identifying bottlenecks, and diagnosing where resources are most needed. In Kenya, the judiciary leveraged data to identify causes of court delays and test ways to reduce them, finding that courts that received performance reports with an added accountability mechanism reduced the probability of adjournments from 20 to 10 percent.
3. Enhancing transparency and accountability: Enhanced recording, digitalization, and transcription of court proceedings encourage legal compliance and allow for greater public oversight. Romania introduced recording technologies in all courtrooms, helping to strengthen accountability. Similarly, Albania published the recordings and minutes of the High Judicial Council, which is responsible for the appointment of judges. Publishing laws, judicial decisions, and court information online, as seen in Kyrgyzstan and Argentina, further promotes an open and accountable justice system.
4. Bringing justice services closer to users: Digital filing and remote hearings reduce the costs associated with going to the court, such as transportation and opportunity costs, facilitating access to remote and rural users. In the United States, remote court proceedings have notably increased defendant participation by alleviating expenses like childcare and travel. Meanwhile, in Tanzania, the judiciary launched tech-supported mobile courts, equipped with computers, recording tools, and solar panels, which are bringing justice closer to rural and underserved communities.
5. Supporting vulnerable populations: Digital technologies can help address systemic barriers. Assistive technologies like automatic transcriptions, screen readers, and other adaptive tools facilitate court participation for individuals with disabilities. For example, the State of Alaska offers sign language interpretation via video for individuals with hearing disabilities. Tech-enabled language translation services for legal documents and hearings help overcome linguistic barriers in multilingual countries and support migrant populations.

In integrating digital technologies, however, the "how" matters just as much the “what”. Adding technology to complex processes without considering institutional capacity and users' needs simply makes flawed processes more efficient. To avoid this, governments can focus on building strong foundations, including reliable network infrastructure, interoperability with other platforms in the justice value chain, and enabling legislation. Investing early in cyber security and digital skills is also crucial to protect sensitive data and maximize the benefits of these technologies. Additionally, the sequencing of reforms is equally important, where simplifying, standardizing, and reengineering administrative processes enable effective digital adoption.

More importantly, the digital transformation of justice should be focused on the people who will use these services. Considering the digital divide - understood not only as access to digital technologies but also people’s trust and ability to meaningfully engage with them - is key to ensuring that technology does not worsen gaps in access to justice. To address this, governments can support users by providing multi-channel access to court services and ensuring citizens know how to engage with digital justice platforms through digital skills development, legal awareness programs, and dedicated help desks. This way, we recognize that, although technology can be a very powerful tool, its impact depends on how it is shaped by the values of justice—fairness, inclusion, and transparency.

Editor’s note:

The Prosperity Insight Note featured in this blog was funded by the GovTech Global Partnership (GTGP) Multi-Donor Trust Fund which is supported by the Finance Ministry of Austria, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

The World Bank’s Global Program on Justice and the Rule of Law is leveraging global knowledge and best practices to support judicial systems in their digitalization journeys. Recently, it launched a Digital Justice Working Group, bringing together over 60 experts from judiciaries, governments, academia, international organizations, and civil society, aimed at sharing insights on how to develop and implement effective, evidence-based and citizen-centric digital justice solutions.