Legal fraternity urged to embrace IT in the administration of justice

Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has noted the need for the legal fraternity to embrace Information Technology (IT) in the administration of justice to prevent hindrances and delays in the process.

Mr. Kabesha has observed that Information Technology is important to the legal fraternity just as it is to the business community.  

Speaking yesterday during the 2024 Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) - Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) in New Delhi, dubbed, “cross-border challenges in justice delivery”, Mr. Kabesha noted that disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic led to a major shift in service delivery, affecting the justice system.

According to a statement issued by First Secretary Press at the Zambian Mission in India Bennie Mundando, Mr. Kabesha highlighted the role of technology in easing processes, enabling the holding of virtual meetings, and facilitating the electronic transfer of court documents.

He said “The delegates also addressed cross-border challenges in the delivery of justice to ensure fair trials for people accused of committing crimes in other jurisdictions and that further action could be taken to enhance the delivery of justice when people from other jurisdictions are involved,” he said.

“There were several issues we interrogated to help us work just like our colleagues in business can do business through information technology. We in the legal fraternity were interrogated on how we can evolve about delivering justice without hindrances and delays because justice should be delivered expeditiously. 

“We looked at issues to do with technology in the justice system. For example, we had the COVID 19 which was a bad thing but somehow, it helped us in that we would be able to deal with certain issues virtually such as holding meetings or sending documents to court through the use of Information Technology,” Mr. Kabesha said. 

Mr. Kabesha has therefore emphasized that among things agreed upon during the conference is the need for increased collaboration among Commonwealth countries, particularly in areas such as training, and ensuring fair trials for individuals who commit crimes in other jurisdictions. 

“We want collaboration within jurisdictions among us in the Commonwealth. We want to collaborate in activities such as legal training where we resolved that we will be having exchange programs in terms of legal training and professional development because this is key in ensuring that as the world is evolving, we are not left behind. 

“The world is moving fast. We now have Artificial Intelligence (AI) but how are we embracing it in the delivery of justice? Are we also moving fast? The meeting was very helpful and we need to implement what we discussed. What will follow later are issues to do with agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and treaties to be signed so that it becomes easier to transact among ourselves,” he said.

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