ELECTRONIC JUSTICE IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS: REMOTE HEARINGS AS A MECHANISM TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Abstract

The article explores the essence and content of applying remote consideration of civil cases, highlighting its significance in ensuring the efficiency and accessibility of justice, especially under restrictions related to martial law or other extraordinary circumstances. Conducting court hearings via videoconferencing not only helps to avoid delays in case proceedings but also reduces the procedural burden on judges and participants. Based on the research, it has been determined that one of the additional factors significantly influencing the transformation of procedural forms during wartime is the active implementation of digital services. Such tools have become an integral feature of modern justice and define one of the key directions for improving the digitalization of civil proceedings. The introduction of these mechanisms ensures the resilience of the judiciary against external threats, supports the continuity of case proceedings, and creates conditions for the realization of procedural rights of participants even in extraordinary situations. The study further demonstrates that the establishment of full electronic record-keeping, protection of electronic copies of case materials, automated backup environments, and double or even triple replication of information across different data centers are essential instruments for minimizing the risk of data loss. In the future, these mechanisms will enable courts to continue case proceedings even in the event of physical destruction of paper documents or inaccessibility of court buildings. Equally important is the development of unified standards for electronic case transfer between courts, which could replace or at least replicate traditional paper workflows. Clearly defined regulations – from technical requirements and file formats to procedures for verifying the authenticity of electronic documents – will ensure legal certainty and predictability of procedural decisions. The integration of such standards into the Unified Judicial Information and Communication System will create the possibility for virtually uninterrupted court functioning even under active military operations. Remote justice not only transforms the mechanism of judicial proceedings but also affects its procedural form, while preserving the functional content of civil procedure and contributing to increased accessibility and efficiency of justice.