Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 5 no. 5 (2024)

Evaluation of the use of Court Video Conference Hearings in Angeles City, Philippines

Mark John Pangan | Alrien F. Dausan

Discipline: Public Health

 

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted courts worldwide to swiftly transition to online operations, including virtual hearings, to maintain continuity amid health concerns. This shift signifies a lasting impact on the justice system. Despite this, research on the effectiveness and challenges of court videoconferencing, particularly in the Philippines, remains limited. This study aimed to address this gap by employing a descriptive-evaluative approach and surveying 213 respondents, including court officers, prosecutors, lawyers, jail officers, and police officers, in Angeles City. The study assessed challenges such as procedural integrity and technical glitches, as well as perspectives on judicial efficiency and cost effectiveness. Findings revealed significant hurdles in videoconference hearings, yet respondents recognized their benefits in expediting case resolutions and enhancing security. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in evaluations across respondent groups. Interviews corroborated survey results, highlighting concerns and benefits of videoconference hearings. Addressing challenges while leveraging benefits is crucial, requiring investment in technological literacy, internet connectivity, and procedural integrity safeguards. Policymakers should also explore solutions to infrastructure limitations, fostering widespread adoption of videoconference hearings for a more effective and fair legal system.



References:

  1. Anand, A. (2021). Virtual Courts: The Chang-ing Face of Indian Judicial System. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3865629
  2. Bailey, R.S. (2021). Advantages and Disad-vantages of Virtual Court Hearings. https://www.baileygreer.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-virtual-court-hearings/
  3. Baker and McKenzie (2021). The Future of Disputes: Are Virtual Hearings Here to Stay? https://www.bakermckenzie.com/
  4. Bannon, A., & Adelstein, J. (2020). Impact of Video Proceedings on Fairness and Access to Justice in Court. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/impact-video-proceedings-fairness-and-access-justice-court
  5. Bannon, A., and Keith D. (2021). Remote Court: Principles for Virtual Proceedings During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond, 115 Nw. U. L. Rev. 1875. https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/nulr/vol115/iss6/7
  6. Bradley, L., & Farber, H. (2022). Virtually In-credible: Rethinking Deference to De-meanor When Assessing Credibility in Asy-lum Cases Conducted by Video Teleconfer-ence. Faculty Scholarship at Penn Carey Law, 2832. https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/faculty_scholarship/2832
  7. California Commission on Access to Justice. (2020). Remote hearings and access to justice: During Covid-19 and beyond. https://www.ncsc.org
  8. Caniban, M. D. A. (2020). Tilting the Scales in Favor of e-Justice: Philippine e-Courts and the e-Filing System in the Post-Pandemic World. Philippine Journal of Public Ad-ministration, 64(2), UP Journals, National College of Public Administration and Governance. www.journals.upd.edu.ph.
  9. Dacanay-Grimares, L. M. (2023). Post-Pandemic Court: Legal Prospects and Empirical Basis for Continuity of the Vide-oconferencing Hearings. IBP Journal, In-tegrated Bar of the Philippines. https://www.ibp.ph
  10. Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived Usefulness, Per-ceived Ease of Use, and User Acceptance of Information Technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
  11. ET Group. (2024). The Benefits of Using Video Conferencing Technology in Courts & Cor-rectional Facilities. https://etgroup.ca/benefits-of-video-conferencing-in-courts-and-correctional-facilities/
  12. Gerry, F., Muraszkiewicz, J., & Iannelli, O. (2018). The drive for virtual (online) courts and the failure to consider obliga-tions to combat human trafficking – A short note of concern on identification, protection, and privacy of victims. Com-puter Law & Security Review, 34(4), 912-919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2018.06.002
  13. International Arbitration Survey. (2021). Use of Technology: Virtual Reality. https://www.whitecase.com/insight-our-thinking/use-technology-virtual-reality
  14. Jamila, F., Rompegading, M., & Hidayat, W. (2021). The Effectiveness of Virtual Trials for Criminal Proceeding as an Effort to Mitigate the Spread of Corona Virus Dur-ing the Covid-19 Pandemic. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Law and Human Rights 2020 (ICLHR 2020). https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.210506.027
  15. Jurva, G. (2021). The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on State & Local Courts Study 2021: A Look at Remote Hearings, Legal Technology, Case Backlogs, and Access to Justice. Thomson Reuters Institute. https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/content/dam/ewp-m/documents/legal/en/pdf/white-papers/covid-court-report_final.pdf
  16. Legg, M., & Song, A. (2021). The Courts, the Remote Hearing and the Pandemic: From Action to Reflection. https://www.unswlawjournal.unsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Legg-Song.pdf
  17. Li, W. & Peng, Q. (2023). Digital courts and corporate investment in sustainability: Evidence from China. International Re-view of Financial Analysis, 88, 102682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2023.102682.
  18. Nangia, S., Perkins, J., & Shadowen, E. L. (2020). The Pros and Cons of Zoom Court Hearings. National Law Review. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/pros-and-cons-zoom-court-hearing
  19. Odhiambo, D., & Mugenyu, C. (2021). The fu-ture of litigation in Kenya: Virtual or hy-brid? Dispute Resolution Alert. https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/news/publications/2021/Dispute/dispute-resolution-alert-19-october-the-future-of-litigation-in-kenya-virtual-or-hybrid-.html
  20. Philp, G. (2022). Listening and Responding to the Future of Virtual Court: A Report on the future of virtual courts in Canada. https://www.courts.ns.ca
  21. Queen Mary University of London. (2021). QMUL International Arbitration Survey 2021. https://arbitration.qmul.ac.uk
  22. Rocha, C., Carvalho, J., & Suxberger, A. (2022). Information technology in judicial proce-dures: Challenges in the use of videocon-ferencing for hearings and trials. Re-searchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369013030
  23. Sanders, A. (2020). Video-Hearings in Europe Before, During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal for Court Administration, 12(2), 3. https://doi.org/10.36745/ijca.379
  24. Sung, H.-C. (2020). Can online courts promote access to justice? A case study of the in-ternet courts in China. Computer Law & Security Review, 39, 105461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2020.105461
  25. Supreme Court of the Philippines. (2019). The Judiciary Annual Report 2019. https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/3d-flip-book/2019-judiciary-annual-report/
  26. Supreme Court of the Philippines. (2020). The Judiciary Annual Report 2020. https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/3d-flip-book/2020-judiciary-annual-report/
  27. Supreme Court of the Philippines. (2021). The Judiciary Annual Report 2021. https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/3d-flip-book/2021-judiciary-annual-report/
  28. Supreme Court of the Philippines. (2022). The Judiciary Annual Report 2022. https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/3d-flip-book/2022-judiciary-annual-report/
  29. Sururie, R. W., & Susanto, Y. A. (2020). Legal Aid Post Services at the Indonesian Reli-gious Courts during the COVID-19 Pan-demic. Ahkam-Jurnal Ilmu Syariah, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v20i2.17469. 
  30. The Florida Bar. (2020). Results of The Florida Bar Video Conferencing Survey. https://www-me-dia.floridabar.org/uploads/2020/11/Florida-Bar-Video-Conferencing-SurveyNovember-2020.pdf

Tools


Copyright © 2024  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic