Administrative Justice Council issues final report on digitisation and tribunals

Its final report on digitisation and the experiences of users across the modernised tribunal system came from a working group chaired by Caroline Sheppard, former chief adjudicator of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

The working group said it aimed to review users’ experience of tribunals in the light of the reform programme led by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

It found advances in online case management and virtual hearings had delivered efficiencies and flexibility, particularly in high-volume jurisdictions. 

But users across multiple jurisdictions reported difficulties around unclear or inconsistent communications, problems with uploading evidence and practical obstacles navigating digital systems.

The report noted remote hearings were coming more common but could be undermined by technical issues, limited privacy and inconsistent support.

It called for better tribunal communications through a multidisciplinary approach, and improving the availability and quality of data.

Other proposals included the development of a long-term digital platform for remote hearings and the careful development of AI-enabled tools for case triage, document summarisation and transcription.

For unreformed tribunals, the report urged trialling commercial off-the-shelf digital systems while ensuring tribunal judiciary and staff have the technology they need to operate effectively.

Overall, the report concluded sustained investment, procedural clarity and user-focused design were essential to tribunals’ proper functioning.

The Senior President of Tribunals and AJC chair Lord Justice James Dingemans, said: “The recommendations offer a path forward, ensuring that digital reform continues to strengthen accessibility, fairness and public confidence in our tribunals. I am very grateful to all of the members of the working group.”

Mark Smulian