Justice says the review is timely because courts are beginning to develop their own protocols
New Zealand’s senior courts are seeking feedback from the profession in the review of the Electronic Document Protocol.
Justice Forrie Miller said that the review is timely as it should inform the work of other courts, which are beginning to develop their own protocols amid modernisation.
“We seek feedback from the profession about the protocol, and their expert assistance in improving it,” he said.
In his memorandum, the Court of Appeal judge said that 27 of the 47 civil appeals before the court are electronic.
“Only about 25% of divisional court cases are electronic, perhaps because the casebooks are often smaller than the 500-page threshold,” he said.
The issues tackled by the review includes whether the 500-page threshold should be reduced, which will require smaller casebooks to be electronic. It will also resolve whether hyperlinking can be automated and whether the structure needs to be changed.
Lawyers can provide feedback until 29 June.
