From paper to the present:
the emergence of online services
in the courts
by
Phil Hocking
Chief Information Officer
Family Court and
Federal Circuit Court
1
www.comcourts.gov.au
ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
• How do services delivered via video or on-line enable
courts to better meet the needs of our clients?
• What are the implications for court spaces and court
staff of enhanced information and communication
technologies?
• How do we support the needs of clients who are not
particularly computer savvy?
2
Video and Online Services
in the FCoA and FCC
• Video Services in the Courts
• IPVC
• Online Services in the Courts
• Commonwealth Courts Portal
3
Context of Courts
• Family Court of Australia
• National Family Law Jurisdiction
• Superior Court with Appellate and 1st Instance Jurisdiction
• 35 Judges
• Federal Circuit Court
• Court of 1st Instance
• Family Law and General Federal Law
• 65 Judges
4
Video Conferencing
in the Courts
5
Video Technology
• Prior to 2012 - ISDN Model
• Federal Courts have used ISDN lines for VC
since before 2000
• Lines rented from Telstra
• Extremely expensive
• Difficult to calculate accurate costs per session
• Difficult to pass on full costs to parties
• Very limited usage due to call costs
6
Video Technology
From 2013 - Internet Protocol VC (IPVC)
•All FCoA/FCC sites (21) upgraded to use IPVC infrastructure
•
•
•
•
30 Fixed systems in courtrooms
4 fixed systems in meeting rooms
27 portable units
4 Tandberg units – personalised video conference units
•Means VC data is carried over existing WAN lines (sunk cost) so
effectively free
•High Definition Video and High Quality audio
•Courtroom VC is fully integrated with court recording system and
sound reinforcement system
•Can be party-party (direct dial) or multi-party sessions
(coordinated centrally via the bridge)
•Some Courtrooms also have integrated Document Camera
7
Video Conferences in Courts
• 27 Portable Units
• located at all sites
• only needs a network connection
to dial or receive video
conference calls
• Tandberg personal unit below
8
30 Video & Audio Equipped
Courtrooms
9
Video Equipped Courtroom
(use touch panel to operate the technology)
10
Video Equipped Courtroom
(document camera)
11
Video Equipped Courtroom
12
Video Technology
Benefits of Internet Protocol VC (IPVC):
•Free VC sessions between sites
•Free sessions with external sites which also use IP (Internet
Protocol) enabled equipment
•Free sessions with external parties via Cisco Jabber but
must have:
• PC/laptop with ADSL connection, microphone, webcam and
speakers
•Packets can be tracked by engineers to ensure priority for
high quality on WAN
•Simple to use
13
Video Technology
• Risks
• Need contract with supplier with local support
• Need very good internal 1st level support model:
• Judges demand superior performance
• Engineer/Help Desk support must be available as required
• Should be able to monitor VIP sessions
• Loss of confidence by a VIP user through a bad session can occur
and takes time to recover from
14
Video Technology
• Unintended consequences
•
•
•
•
All national judicial and staff telelink meetings now via IPVC
Heavier use than planned for (good!)
New online Booking System was needed to manage bookings
Need to link IPVC bookings to case management system for
hearing but avoid clash with non-court related bookings
15
How do services delivered via video enable courts to
better meet the needs of our clients?
• Reduce travel costs for
•
•
•
•
Parties living in remote areas
Parties who can’t afford to travel to court
Expert witnesses living interstate/overseas
Other govt agencies (eg legal aid)
• Faster delivery of judgments to circuit locations
• Cheaper and faster
• directions hearings for regional locations
• family report conferences for regional locations
• Protection for vulnerable witnesses
• Hosting an AIJA national real time interactive conference
next month
16
What are the implications for court spaces of video
conferencing technologies?
• Need to allow space for equipment rack if inside
(heat issue/access) or outside courtroom
• Cabling may be difficult
• Joinery changes may be expensive
• Be aware of all viewing angles and glare
• Ensure integration with
• court recording system and provider
• sound reinforcement systems
17
Video Equipped Courtroom
(AV equipment rack)
18
What are the implications for court staff of video
conferencing technologies?
• During installation must have judicial agreement
for changes to bench etc
• Have a Pilot site to prove concept
• User manuals and training are vital
• Complex part is tuning the network for VC traffic
• Need to have Help Desk staff trained to instantly
respond to issues during a session
• Staff have embraced IPVC as improved
communication tool
• Less travel due to meetings via IPVC now
19
How do we support the needs of clients who are
not particularly computer savvy?
•
•
•
•
Contact Centre help line to assist with Jabber setup
Not an issue in courtroom as they just appear as normal
We always have court officer to assist at circuit sites
Must still stress that they are in a court and to dress/behave
accordingly
20
A lesson on VC
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMXm3fvktjU
21
Online eServices in the Courts Commonwealth Courts Portal
www.comcourts.gov.au
22
“…to provide a common platform to
advance on line services on behalf
of the Family Court, Federal Court,
and Federal Circuit Court and
Family Court of WA.”
23
24
25
Online Divorce Application
26
27
Portal Registrations
30-Jun-09
30-Jun-10
30-Jun-11
30-Jun-12
30-Jun-13
Law firms
667
1279
2466
3280
4134
Lawyers
1761
2827
5026
6746
8370
Total users
5900
24 073
57 602
85332
118,108
28
How do services delivered via on-line services enable
courts to better meet the needs of our clients?
Portal provides:
• Single user ID and password for all federal courts
information
• 24/7 access to view documents, orders, listing
details
• Simple system to upload documents
• Smart eforms for applications guide user through
process
• Self-select hearing date and pay by credit card
• eCourt Forum
• enables a virtual court room for attendances via Portal
29
What are the implications for court
staff of the Portal?
• Courts are fully committed to developing full Electronic
Court File (ECF)
• Direct benefits are reduced costs due to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Minimal data entry
No file movements
No lost documents or files
Less printing and paper costs
No archival and retrieval costs
Self-service for provision of sealed orders leads to reduced postage
and handling
• Also fits with govt’s Digital Transition Strategy
30
What are the implications for court spaces of
online services?
In Court - changes needed to view ECF
• Screens required for
•
•
•
•
Bench
Associate
Parties/lawyers
Witness
• Could be all-in-one touch screens or tablets
• For judge must be able to display multiple documents
like paper file
• Printer required for ad hoc printing
31
What are the implications for court spaces of
online services?
In Court - screens on bench considerations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Angle of display
Avoid obscuring parties
Avoid glare
OHS issues
Flexible installation for other judges to use
Embedded in bench or mounted on top
Motorised systems for fine tuning
Cabling access and costs
32
What are the implications for court spaces of
online services?
In Court - screens on bench considerations
• Screens should not interfere with viewing angles for judges
• Keyboard, mouse or touch screen
• Footprint on bench
• All-in-one-computer may be appropriate
33
Lenovo all-in-one with a 27" 1080p display
Tablet PC
34
Touch Screen sizes available
now
What are the implications for court spaces of
online services?
Other areas of the courthouse will also need more screens:
• Chambers
• Registry - any locations where ECF is viewed
• For clients –
• File viewing section
• Front Counter (Coles self-service model)
• Issues - cabling, joinery, footprint etc
• What about viewing ECF on circuit?
36
How do we support the needs of clients using
online services who are not particularly
computer savvy?
• Contact Centre Help Line available business hours
• Web sites online help
• Staff can remotely take over their PC to train them live
(usually for law firms)
• Analysing issues raised by clients to address them
(dynamic help screens)
• Printed documents will still be available
• Paper less courts = less paper
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIeZg0-Tc9M
37
Thank You
38