England: Lord Chief Justice sees eBay justice on the horizon

Lord Burnett of Maldon explained the move would allow people on low incomes access to the justice system, The Times reports.

Addressing an international forum on online courts in London he said: “There is no reason why our forms, processes and perhaps even some hearings should not be optimised for smartphones.

“There is no reason why our online courts and justice systems cannot deliver effective and accessible justice, direct to the citizen.”

He told judges and lawyers they could not be “immune” from the digital revolution.

“It is as well that we have not adopted the position of the proverbial ostrich,” he said.

“When large numbers of individuals and particularly those on low incomes do not have effective access to our justice systems, we simply cannot adopt such approach.”

“Yet the sensible use of technology may provide enduring solutions to these problems,” he added.

The judge pointed to the example of eBay, which resolves 60 million disputes a year through a resolution system, saying that many practitioners may “cavil at the comparison” but the system was quick, cheap and effective.

Lord Burnett added: “We should perhaps remember that the overwhelming majority of civil claims are for small sums, important though they are to the litigants, and that litigants want and expect a swift and inexpensive answer.

“If the courts cannot provide that, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms will develop which can. And we owe it to those who challenge government decisions in tribunals to make the task as simple as we can, in practical and procedural terms, and provide answers swiftly.”