By Canadian Press

Justice minister flags obstacles on road to modernizing legal and court systems

Feb 17, 2021 | 12:32 PM

OTTAWA — Justice Minister David Lametti is flagging some technical difficulties as the legal and court systems try to innovate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lametti told a meeting of the Canadian Bar Association today that many people have trouble using technology to take part in hearings because they’re simply not used to it.

Canada’s justice system was already wrestling with case backlogs in the courts when the pandemic hit last year, closing courthouses and pausing many trials. 

Courts were forced to look at different ways of working and to accelerate steps toward modernization that many felt were long overdue.

Hearings are now commonly being held via video conference to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

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Lametti serves with Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner on a committee looking at the longer-term effects of the pandemic and how to address them.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2021.

The Canadian Press