HMCTS Services: Publications and Information
Published 23 November 2021
© Crown copyright 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmcts-services-publications-and-information/hmcts-services-publications-and-information
Every year we publish thousands of case lists. Lists are presented in a variety of formats across multiple sites which can make it hard for court users to find the information they need easily.
To support our commitment to open justice, we are developing a Publications and Information service. This platform will improve access to court and tribunal hearing information by providing a single site on GOV.UK and will complement work to move judgments to the National Archives from April 2022.
Court users will benefit from an easy to use service that meets all accessibility requirements such as those with low vision, physical or motor disabilities. The service will also be available in Welsh, ensuring that court users across Wales can access the service and find the information they need. We are also working with media representatives to ensure the service meets their needs and supports their ability to report on hearings. Members of the media and legal professionals will be given enhanced access to the site allowing them to access restricted information via a secure login.
1. Aims and progress
| Objectives | Achievements | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Provide a service that gives court users easy access to information published by courts and tribunals | Worked with the Litigants in Person Engagement Group to understand how members of the public use court information | To provide a service that is simple to use and accessible on all devices To provide a platform that is flexible and allows HMCTS services to publish information easily in the future |
| To provide the media and legal professionals with up to date hearing information as it is published | Established a media focus group to gather feedback on how court information is used and identified needs | Members of the media and legal professionals will benefit from greater consistency of hearing information |
| To test an early version of the service with members of the media and legal professionals in January 2022 to gather feedback |
2. Looking ahead
By the end of this year we will have designed an early version of the service for members of the media, legal professionals and public to test in January 2022.
3. Who we’re working with
- Litigants in Person Engagement Group
- HMCTS Media Working Group
- HMCTS Strategic Engagement Group