SMART JUSTICE IS SWIFT JUSTICE

Online dispute resolution

The ‘smart trial’ initiative brings about a radical change to court proceedings as everything from the litigation process to implementing a verdict will take place online > The online platform will link defendants to lawyers, claimants and judges until a verdict is issued > It will help bring legal conflicts and disputes to a conciliation committee remotely, resolve initial claims, answer claim enquiries, provide procedural consultation and hold a court hearing through video communication platforms before a verdict is issued online > It aims to cut down the number of visitors to government entities by 80 per cent in the next few years. > It will speed up trials, cut down efforts and money of claimants and defendants by enabling access to judicial services at the comfort of their homes or offices > It will also allow courts and judges to cut trial duration and smartly manage cases, documents and court hearing schedules

Conciliation, mediation in criminal justice

To promote a culture of reconciliation in the community, the ministry will establish a mediation foundation to resolve petty crime cases such as financial misdemeanours, cheque cases and family disputes > The Federal Public Prosecution will make mediation services possible to the claimant and the accused in some types of misdemeanour cases > Prosecutors in all courts will be trained through a customised programme to mediate in such cases, in an effort to reduce consequences that may result from criminal sentences > The initiative will eventually reduce the burden of criminal prosecution

Video conferencing in court hearings

Commercial cases and personal status cases will be resolved through video conferencing that will be used in questioning victims, witnesses, experts or translators via a screen during a court hearing > The initiative ensures quick verdicts without the need of parties involved to show up in court

Unified translation centre

To ensure fair trial, equal defence rights and clear understanding of legal procedures for non-Arabic speakers, a translation centre will be established in the court and operated by experts > The centre will enable experts to provide immediate translations to opposing parties in a legal claim and in courtrooms via electronic screens without the need for translators to move between courts of other emirates > The centre is expected to save time and human resources needed for translations > It will help create an electronic database of legal and judicial terms of widely used languages that will unify translations in the long run > It will control the quality of translations and ensure the accused has the required rights to defence, especially in criminal proceedings