Open Justice and Public Confidence 

The Global Judicial Integrity Network is collecting good practices in open justice, including the judiciary's relationship with the media. Judicial transparency and community outreach help to promote the work of the judiciary, as well as ensure public confidence. 

Network Activities Related to Open Justice

 

The Global Judicial Integrity Network already began exploring judicial transparency at its official launch in April 2018, when a panel discussion on de-mystifying the judiciary was organized by the Council of Europe as one of the breakout sessions. Many jurisdictions promote the concept of "open justice" and publish their court records and other documentation, to help the public understand the work of the courts. Other jurisdictions go further and organize community outreach events, such as events targeted at schoolchildren or law students. Ensuring access to information and an understanding of court processes improves public trust in the judiciary and prevents corruption.

In addition to the launch event, the Global Judicial Integrity Network organized a panel discussion at the 2020 session of the International Anti-Corruption Conference titled "Transparency Techniques to Strengthen the Resilience of the Judiciary." This event focused on how courts can appropriately liaise with the media, as well as how to use social media as a tool for public outreach.

The Network has also been sharing good practices in public outreach and judicial transparency by interviewing judges and judicial experts on the topic, including Professor Jane Johnston of the University of Queensland, and Judge Halsey and Judge Strand of the Judiciary of Minnesota. For Russian-speaking participants, an interview was also conducted with the Acting Chief Justice of Georgia, Justice Mzia Todua. 

Moving forward, the Global Judicial Integrity Network hopes to provide guidance to judiciaries on good practices of public outreach and transparency.

 

Improving Access to Justice through Community Outreach

The Global Judicial Integrity Network interviews Judge Halsey and Judge Strand of the Judiciary of Minnesota in the United States on community outreach practices, including their public access television show.

 

The Role of Public Information Officers in Courts

Associate Professor Jane Johnston of the University of Queensland in Australia speaks on the role that public information officers play in the judiciary, as well as discussing their history and how social media has changed their position.

Transparency Techniques to Strengthen the Resilience of the Judiciary

The Global Judicial Integrity Network hosted a discussion on open justice at the 2020 International Anti-Corruption Conference.

 

Articles

Reaching Out to the General Public

Kees Sterk and Justice Andrea Chis of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary discuss their recommendations for judiciaries' public outreach efforts.

 

Cleaning Windows: Judicial Transparency in Belize 

Judge Sonya Young describes the importance of judicial transparency to public confidence.

 

Is "Open Justice" Possible?

Judge Tula del Moral details the "open justice" procedures of the Judiciary of Buenos Aires.