Correa, House Judiciary Committee Explore Digital Tools To Improve Courtroom Accessibility
Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Lou Correa—who serves as Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee—held an important hearing to discuss how America’s courts are adapting to the Coronavirus pandemic. During the hearing, Members heard from lawyers and judges on how technology can improve courtroom accessibility, and what potential issues lawmakers should consider.
Rep. Correa said, “The coronavirus pandemic has proven to be both a challenge and an opportunity for our legal system. Innovative courts around the country are meeting these new difficulties by expanding teleconferencing and public telecasting. Today’s testimony from experts indicated that this rapid expansion of technology is helping us address the pandemic safely and improving transparency within the system.
“As Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack said during today’s hearing, folks often view going to court like going to the dentist. It’s not something we look forward to and often disruptive to our lives. By improving tech, we are increasing accessibility and making our legal system easier for our citizens to navigate.
“As we continue to respond to the coronavirus threat, we can’t wait months for new studies to show us how to adapt to the pandemic. We must implement new strategies as we develop them to ensure we are meeting the needs of our communities and our legal system. As the old saying goes, ‘justice delayed is justice denied.’ We have to find new ways to keep our courtrooms open and active. I’m optimistic we are on the right track.”
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Rep. Lou Correa represents California’s 46th Congressional District. He serves as Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, and as the Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. Read more here.
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