Judiciary digitisation to eradicate backlog
Delay in transcription of records affect cases and litigants
Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane says digitisation of the judiciary through
Real- time Reporting will assist in eradicating backlogs so that appeal cases are heard on time.
He stated that in line with the Reset Agenda by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to adopt new methods to accelerate service delivery and implementation of new systems, the Judiciary has embarked on a few projects to digitise its processes to further enhance service delivery.
He indicated that Real- Time Court Reporting System has been installed in some courtrooms in Lobatse, Gaborone, and Francistown High Court Divisions.
According to CJ, through Real- time Reporting, recordings can be displayed on a large screen for audiences or can be transmitted to remote locations.
“Once fully implemented, resources permitting, Realtime Reporting will eliminate the need to transcribe notes to produce a transcript of the proceedings, which can be incredibly tedious and timeconsuming for court reporters.
“This will in turn address the prevailing challenge of the delay in the transcription of records of proceedings which contributes to the delay in the hearing of appeals.
“We are also looking into the use of new technology systems, which transcribes audio into text immediately with a view to using similar systems to address the challenge of delayed court records,” said Rannowane at the official Opening of the Legal Year this week.
He pointed out that the adoption of new technology will hopefully make Court proceedings available within hours of the conclusion of court hearings and will permanently rid Courts of backlog in the transcription of proceedings, thereby expediting the hearing of appeals.
The Law Society of Botswana has expressed concern over the delay in the transcription of records. LSB Chairman Tshekiso Tshekiso explained that the issue of excessive delays in the transcription and transmission of records from subordinate courts, especially magistrates’ courts, to appellate courts for the prosecution of appeals is still a major concern.
This according to Tshekiso is prevalent in criminal appeals, in which some convicts serve significant portions of all their sentences, if not all of it, before their appeals are heard. He said nevertheless, they are hopeful that these will be addressed owing to recent interactions between the Society and the Chief Justice.
“The Society is concerned at the impatience and exasperation of some judicial officers to attorneys and litigants, especially self- actors. Attorneys as officers of the Court and all litigants are expected to act with deference toward Judges and Magistrates.
“However, the judiciary is not above reproach, and the expectation is that they too, exercise patience and courtesy while maintaining firm control over proceedings in the courtroom,” Tshekiso said.