Digitization Of Court Records To Be Unveiled From September

Courts in Kenya are set to abandon the old and outdated handwriting recording of court procedures and embrace digital recording as of September next month as Chief Justice David Maraga has revealed.

CJ Maraga said that digitization of court recordings will replace the outdated handwritten form of recording by magistrates, judges and other judicial officers and enhance efficiency in handling court records.

Speaking in Mombasa during the opening of 2019 judge’s seminar, the CJ said that at least six courts will start using the digital recording procedures as of September this year, a clear indication of the system’s advancement.

As part of ongoing judicial reforms, Maraga pointed out that digitization of court recordings will help foster the trust of Kenyans towards the system, improve work pace among the magistrates and the judges as opposed to the old handwritten recording which was sort of time-consuming.

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

CJ Maraga advised judges to brace themselves with evolving changes in the judicial system around the world, pointing out that for them (the judges) to be able to tackle judicial matters, they have to be well versed with emerging trends in the system.

“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 also stressed that the judges should be well acquainted with issues that relate to sexual offenses and age consents, pointing out that they are among the trending issues in their line of duty. The CJ advised that active participation in judicial debates is crucial in handling the aforesaid issues.

Accompanying the CJ was Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Court of Appeal President William Ouko and Director Judicial Training Institute Justice Kathrima M’Inoti and South Africa CJ Mogoeng Mogoeng delivered the keynote address.

The four-day seminar was also attended by more than 120 judges countrywide and is themed as “Increasing Speed and Quality of Justice: A Judiciary Service Delivery Agenda”.