Courts to go digital in September, says CJ David Maraga

The long-awaited digitisation of court records will be rolled out next month, Chief Justice David Maraga revealed yesterday.

Justice Maraga said the move will herald the end of the archaic handwriting of notes by judges, magistrates and other judicial officers.

It will be replaced by digital court recording and transcription systems. 

Justice Maraga said this was part of the ongoing reforms to create efficiency and transparency in the Judiciary to bolster Kenyans' confidence in the system.

He said old and outdated handwriting of the court proceedings was time-consuming and that the new system will enable the judges and magistrates work faster.

“We will continue to vigorously pursue other elements of digitisation such as replacing the archaic time-consuming tradition of handwritten notes with digital court recording and transcription system beginning with 32 court rooms around the country” said Justice Maraga.

Justice Maraga said this during the opening of the 2019 annual judges colloquium at a  Mombasa hotel.

He said six courts which will benefit from the reform are expected to start operating next month as a sign of seriousness in the ongoing reforms.

The CJ was accompanied by Deputy Chief Justice Phelomen Mwilu, Court of Appeal President William Ouko and Director Judicial Training Institute Justice Kathrima M’Inoti

He asked the judges to acquaint themselves with evolving issues facing the world to enable them approach cases with clear minds because adjudication of justice requires knowledgeable judicial officers.

"The adjudication of justice requires a knowledgeable Judiciary, a Judiciary that remains aware of evolving issues facing the world in which its clients live and a Judiciary alive to the emerging jurisprudence in various fields," he said.

The CJ told judges to actively participate in the debate about the judicial approach on sexual offences  and the age consent which was among the emerging issues in the course of their work.