Exercising the Right to Litigate in Times of Serious Epidemics: Utilizing Technology as a Mechanism to Face Emergency Health Conditions

Abstract

The advancements in scientific and technological fields within legal technology have led to the development of judicial work rules. Communication, message exchange, and various legal documents detailing the proceedings of cases and public lawsuits between qualified litigation parties now occur electronically, surpassing spatial and temporal boundaries. In light of this increasing technological advancement, it is essential to enhance the modern justice system in the face of challenges posed by health crises that exacerbate delays in litigation and negatively impact the handling of public lawsuits and disputes of all kinds. Conversely, due to international judicial cooperation, sharing expertise, and learning from the experiences of leading countries in digital transformation, it has become possible to address these issues and enable individuals to exercise their right to access justice and seek protection for their fundamental rights and freedoms. This is achieved by integrating traditional judicial work with modern technological tools, including audio-visual communication methods, allowing for remote investigations and trials without the need to physically attend the competent judicial authority, particularly during health crises. This was effectively demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing the use of remote video communication in the judicial system.