ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social and economic disruption. It has affected all aspects of daily life, including the administration of justice. As courts have implemented safety procedures during the pandemic, they have been forced to limit or end jury trials, restrict access to courtrooms, and replace in-person proceedings with video conferencing. These measures, although necessary to curb the spread of the virus, have impeded access to legal services—especially for women and other vulnerable groups. The pandemic has also increased longstanding structural inequalities in the society, and it has undermined the progress made over the years toward ending both economic and gender inequality. This chapter examines the current challenges facing judicial systems, especially the courts, and it outlines and evaluates measures taken to ensure that courts are safe, continue to dispense justice, and offer effective protection to litigants, court officials, and other participants in the court process. It also considers whether the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity for courts to increase their use of technology to improve their operations.
