Justice in the New Digital Era: The Pitfalls and Benefits of Rapid Technology Adoption by Courts

Abstract

Courts occupy a unique position in the justice system that is steeped in tradition and
formality. Likewise, any changes from established procedure are likely to invite challenges to
decisions and outcomes based on their legal and constitutional implications. As such, it should
be no surprise that courts have been slow to embrace technological advances. Yet the pandemic has forced courts to quickly adapt and adopt new technologies. Courts and other governmental entities are currently overcoming hurdles to meet this challenge. In this article, we will discuss the rise of and courts’ potential issues with embracing the use of new technologies, with a particular focus on three innovations -- video conferencing, text messaging, and cloud storage.