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Court users will be able to track cases online

An expansion of the Courts Service’s digital court-management system is among the key objectives set out in the organisation’s latest technology strategy, published yesterday (17 December). 

UCMS (unified court-management system) is a new back-office case-management system that allows court staff to manage cases. 

It first went live in 2023, starting with assisted decision-making capacity cases, and it is now used by all High Court staff, as well as all Circuit Family offices across the country. 

UCMS roll-out 

“The next phase of UCMS will focus on expanding its reach to all other jurisdictions and areas of law,” the service’s ICT, Digital and Data Strategy 2024 -2027 says. 

This will involve rolling out UCMS to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Circuit Court Civil, District Court Civil, District Court Family offices, and Probate staff, over the next three years. 

The Courts Service adds that the development of UCMS Crime, which will replace two existing systems, is also underway and will be completed during this period. 

The courts body says that it will shortly launch UCMS Portal, an external-facing component of the system that will enable courts users to create and track cases online. 

Users will include solicitors, barristers, town agents, lay litigants, and other members of the public.  

‘Less reliance on paper’ 

UCMS Portal is currently in a pilot phase for Circuit Court Family divorce cases. 

After the divorce pilot, the portal will be gradually extended to support all of Circuit Court Family Courts, and then to additional case types and jurisdictions, such as probate and the High Court. 

UCMS Judiciary, for judges and county registrars, will be launched next year, starting with a pilot phase. The strategy describes this as “a crucial component” of the UCMS project, reducing judges’ reliance on paper files and paper-based processes by court staff. 

The Courts Service also plans to also integrate UCMS with other public-facing registers, such as those for bankruptcy, judgments, licensing, personal insolvency, and probate. 

‘Focused support’ for judges 

The courts body describes remote and hybrid courtroom technology is “a key priority” to provide victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable court users with “a safe and secure avenue” through which they can attend court.  

“We will aim to support adoption of this technology, working with staff, the judiciary and county registrars to further explore potential opportunities in this area,” it adds. 

The strategy outlines plans to continuing technology training for staff, with the judiciary receiving “focused support” through the creation of bespoke training materials.  

The Courts Service also plans to rebuild the Courts.ie website to make it easier for everyone to use. 

The courts body said that its modernisation programme, launched in 2020, continued to inform the new three-year plan. 

Owen Harrison (chief information officer) said that strategy “moves the Courts Service further along its goal of becoming a digital-first organisation”.