In December 2004, the Judges Technology Advisory Committee (JTAC) of the Canadian Judicial Council published a feasibility study recommending the creation of a Canadian Centre for Court Technology/Centre Canadien de Technologie Judiciaire (CCCT-CCTJ) in response to the developing concern that court technology opportunities were not being addressed effectively in Canada. At a national conference in August 2005, a broad representation of stakeholders enthusiastically supported the JTAC recommendation.
In December 2005, a committee of judicial representatives, deputy ministers of justice and court administrators met to discuss the next steps for the creation of a CCCT-CCTJ. At this meeting, it was agreed that:
- the use of technology in courts and the justice system could be improved with better communication across jurisdictions and across justice system sectors;
- a CCCT-CCTJ would likely address the need to explore and share information on court technology opportunities, but the concept needed further development; and
- the work of further developing the concept of a CCCT-CCTJ should be undertaken by an interim board of justice system participants, with the assistance of an interim Executive Director.
The CCCT-CCTJ has been incorporated as a national non-profit corporation. The Board of Directors includes representatives of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Deputy Ministers of Justice, leading legal, judicial and court administration organizations, and the Public Legal Education Association of Canada.
In June 2007, the Board of Directors agreed that a fund-raising strategy would be adopted that would enable the CCCT-CCTJ to hire a Chief Executive Officer who would in turn hire staff as needed and as fund-raising permitted. The Centre was privileged to have Dominic Jaar as the inaugural CEO. After almost two years in that position, Dominic’s other professional responsibilities required that he resign effective December 31, 2010.
The Centre has nominated Patrick Cormier as its Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2011.
Objectives, Results & Outcomes
Technology is increasingly used in court processes, both in civil and criminal cases. It is often relied upon to increase access to justice, reduce costs in the administration of justice and generally improve the effectiveness and efficiency of court activities. What is the role of the Canadian Centre for Court Technology in the midst of this modernization trend? The Centre was created to provide modernization leadership and act as a catalyst. It brings together justice system stakeholders and partners to enhance access to justice by fostering an atmosphere favourable to technological innovation and excellence in our court systems.
In order to fulfill this leadership role, the Centre is currently offering the following services:
| Objective | Result | Outcome |
| Developing Best Practices & Guidelines | Empower court technology decision makers in the justice community, to make sound decisions in relation to court technology. | To create an atmosphere favourable to technological innovation and excellence in our court systems. |
| Profiles | Inform the Justice community of successful technology projects, courts and people. | Ibid. |
| Informal Consultation | Provide value to justice stakeholders and committees in the form of independent and expert advice on court technology trends, risks, opportunities and best practices. | Ibid. |
| Facilitation | Increase collaboration with national Justice organizations and committees towards common goals, including the creation of a Canadian centre for justice | The creation of a Canadian centre for justice, providing a funded, stable home for tackling on an ongoing basis a full range of Justice modernization challenges, priorities and issues at a national level, including technological modernization. |
| National Court Technology Conference (every second year) |
Increase awareness and knowledge of court technology opportunities, risks, trends and developments. | To create an atmosphere favourable to technological innovation and excellence in our court systems. |
Future Undertakings
The table above represents the current objectives of the CCCT-CCTJ. Given additional funding, we intend to pursue the following additional objectives.
| Objective | Result | Outcome |
| Formal Consultation Services, including Evaluation and Project Management services. | Provide independently vetted and supervised consultation services to court technology stakeholders. | To make concrete progress in technological innovation and excellence in our court systems. |
| Turnkey Services and Products, allowing court technology stakeholders to use the CCCT-CCTJ as a catalogue of services and products they can immediately put to use in their context. |
Provide a concrete set of technology solutions to courts, including web sites and online trial platforms. | Ibid. |
| Technology Related Training Programs, delivered in partnership with NJI, covering basic to advanced IT. |
Increase the ability of individuals and organizations in the Justice community to leverage IT in relation to court processes. | Ibid. |
| Research Services | Promote understanding of the specific technology needs of the judiciary, public, legal profession and courts administrators. | To create an atmosphere favourable to technological innovation and excellence in our court systems. |
