Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams representing the “Court Excellence and Innovation Today and Tomorrow” conference organized by Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) Court dan International Consortium for Court Excellence on Thursday (8/11) in Dubai, UEA.

Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams represented the “Court Excellence and Innovation Today and Tomorrow” conference organized by Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) Court dan International Consortium for Court Excellence on Thursday (8/11/2018) in Dubai, UEA.

The conference was held to discuss how courts face the rapid development of technology, provide services to justice seekers by utilizing technology, and the basic principles that guide the functions of judicial power related to the court\'s readiness to keep up with the times.

Technology is significant in opening access to court for litigants, as well as in improving the expediency and efficiency of court’s administrative services. However, technology also poses a problem to the judiciary, as pointed out by David Masuhara, British Columbia court judge who spoke at the conference. Haste is one of the key sources of the issue. Every court should be able to assess itself on its use of technology. However, advanced equipment that is not followed by preparedness in utilizing it makes it ineffective, when it should improve efficiency. Nevertheless, courts should not sit still, as it would mean regression when in principle, court services must progress along with the society. That said, society should not be forced to take a leap when it is only able to walk, said Jessica Der Matossian of the Australian federal court.

Drastic changes also occur in the judiciary, said Richard Susskind, Professor of the University College London. As a futurist, he predicted that the courts will not only be a building, but a structure that serves to provide justice services for society. He imagines a kind of online court, where the registration of a case, the examination hearing, and the ruling is done online. It can be seen today where courts have begun to stay away from paper documents and started digitizing documents. Examining witnesses and hearing expert statements through video conference is now commonplace. More extremely, artificial intelligence might someday replace judges in passing rulings. Changes in providing judicial services using technology are inevitable. However, those changes must adapt to the people’s pace and abilities.

This conference provided inputs and valuable lessons for the betterment of the Constitutional Court. Justice Wahiduddin Adams said that he appreciated the opportunity to attend the conference and that he would share the lessons he learned to other constitutional justices to improve the Constitutional Court as an excellent court. (Bisar/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)