Open justice and open data

On 23 May 2016, the Information Law and Policy Centre hosted a roundtable discussion in London on open justice and open data, prompted by longstanding concerns held by journalists, lawyers, academics and not-for-profit organisations about access to courts data, and its digital availability (see, for example, here, here and here).

It is also a timely opportunity to contribute to the further development of the Government’s Open Government National Action Plan, through the Open Government Civil Society Network. Open justice and more accessible courts data have been suggested as a possible area for reform.

Participants at the meeting included representatives from organisations in the fields of open data, justice research and campaigning, journalism and law. The meeting discussed a variety of court data including, but not restricted to, court lists, results, written judgments and reporting restrictions.

From this meeting, we have produced a summary of the discussion. It does not offer a full account of the issues associated with open justice and open data but further resources can be supplied on request.

  • Summary of meeting [PDF]