In a significant step towards modernizing its judiciary system, the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court is on the fast track to successfully digitize all its courts, with the Supreme Court in Providenciales already been fully digitized.
In a news release, the Turks and Caicos Islands Judiciary explained that plans are also on track to fully digitize the magistrate's courts across the country. The initiative began in February of this year.
The Judiciary pointed out that the initiative is aligned with the objectives outlined in its 2020-2025 Strategic Framework - aiming to enhance accessibility and efficiency in the legal process.
The digitization program, also known as E-Judiciary, introduces various electronic services, including electronic case management, statistical reporting, and electronic court filing (e-filing). At present, E-filing is already operational at the Supreme Court, allowing court-users to file documents and access ongoing cases electronically.
Additionally, the Registry has adopted electronic methods for administrative tasks, such as case assignments to judges, further streamlining the judicial process.
The key goal of the initiative, according to the Judiciary, is to provide greater convenience and accessibility to justice, transitioning the judicial system into a paperless court. Building on the success of E-filing services on the main island of Providenciales, the Judiciary said it intends to extend this technology to other islands in the archipelago.
The islands that will benefit from this expansion are North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Salt Cay.
To facilitate public access to the E-filing system, Judicial Kiosks have been established at the Supreme Court in Providenciales and Grand Turk, as well as at the District Commissioners' Offices in North Caicos and Middle Caicos. These kiosks are equipped with personnel trained in E-filing procedures, offering assistance to individuals filing their claims.
The Judiciary said it is actively working on setting up additional Judicial Kiosks on the remaining islands to make the E-filing service accessible to all residents.
"By embracing digital transformation, the Turks and Caicos Islands' judiciary aims to improve overall service quality, ensuring easier access to justice for all citizens. This progressive move towards a fully electronic court system is expected to enhance efficiency, reduce paperwork, and foster a more user-friendly experience within the legal domain, the Judiciary said in a news release.
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