The advent of Covid-19 has seen the acceleration of the digitalization of justice and the increasing use of remote hearings. However, this leaves many questions unanswered, especially when it comes to preserving the rights of citizens across the globe. What effects has the pandemic had on the judiciary and how do they serve the public? Where does the balance lie between safeguarding public health and endangering human rights, particularly in regards to human rights and access to courts? Is digital justice able to mitigate these effects? And in which circumstances are remote hearings suitable alternatives to in-person proceedings?
In this episode, we hear about human rights and the proper functioning of the judiciary under pandemic conditions and beyond from Andrea Huber, and we talk about the limitations of digital justice, particularly in criminal law contexts, and responsibilities placed on an already pressurized judiciary with Judge José Igreja Matos.