Job cuts on the cards for court services

New technology would allow judges to manage criminal cases electronically. Photo / Thinkstock

Details of a major shake-up to court services around the country will be announced tomorrow and court staff will learn whether there will be any job losses.

The Ministry of Justice was looking to modernise the way courts were run "through better use of technology, infrastructure and more efficient courtroom processes", deputy secretary of courts and tribunals Robert Pigou said yesterday.

He declined to answer questions, saying it was inappropriate to comment further until after meetings with court staff across the country tomorrow.

Staff would be advised then "what this means for them".

In June, Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced new technology would be introduced, which he said would significantly reduce the court's reliance on paper.

"Our courts are old-fashioned in that everything is still paper-based and requires manual handling to move it through the system," he said then.

New technology would allow judges to manage criminal cases electronically, see charges processed up to 70 per cent faster and save the ministry and police about 93,000 hours a year.

The first stage of electronic filing and recording of judicial decisions in court would be in place by July 1 next year, he said.