Technology to Improve Court Operations, Access to Info

New technology will soon improve the efficiency of the province's courts and make it easier for Nova Scotians to obtain information.

Plans are under way to implement a system for the electronic filing of documents and electronic access to court records. Nova Scotians will also be able to obtain information through interactive voice response systems. Automated scheduling, accounting and document management systems will be put in place for all courts.

Court fees will be adjusted Oct. 15 to help pay for the improvements. The new fees are comparable to those charged in other Canadian jurisdictions, and the policy of waiving fees continues for those in difficult financial circumstances.

"We must improve our technology in order to improve the efficiency of the courts," said Justice Minister Jim Smith. "We will waive court fees for those facing financial difficulty, which means the courts remain accessible to all Nova Scotians."

The improvements will be made over five years. The focus the first year will be on the Family Division of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.