New Zealand's principal Family Court judge says although Otago and Southland Family Court judges had initial ''security concerns'' over a planned trial of audio-visual technology in court, they are still supportive of its use because those issues had now been resolved.
Southern judges recently pulled out of a six-month pilot scheme to trial web-based conferencing technology through an audio-visual link (AVL) in the Family Court, but Judge Laurence Ryan said that did not mean they were uncomfortable with the concept.
''The judges have always been and continue to be supportive of the use of AVL facilities to improve access to justice for their local community.
''Their concerns about the current trial surrounded issues of technology and security. They are very comfortable about utilising new technology and have done so in relation to two other initiatives being introduced over the next few months.''
Minister for Courts Chester Borrows announced on Thursday that the proof of concept trial of audio-visual technology, originally planned for Otago and Southland, would now take place in Whangarei.
As part of the pilot scheme, Family Court judges in Whangarei would use an audio-visual link to connect with the Kaitaia and Kaikohe District Courts.
No security concerns have been raised by judges in Whangarei, but Judge Ryan said although problems had been observed in the Otago/Southland mock trial, those had been overcome before the announcement of Whangarei as the location for the trial.
Judge Ryan declined to detail the problems, for security reasons.
