At least to South Korea. Kim Tong-hyung of the Korea Times reported back in April of this year that:
Weblogs, or Internet diaries, are about to gain more than just curious readers. Korean courts are now experimenting whether they could operate court trials and hearings just through Internet postings, saving everybody the trouble of actually entering the courtroom.
The Seoul Administration Court recently designated one of its court units, which rules on labor-management relations and industrial accidents, to develop a prototype model for Internet-based trial models by the end of this month.
Although the court has not yet decided on a detailed framework, it plans to allow the parties in lawsuits to submit their list of evidence, legal documents and other data on Weblogs or Internet message boards to be operated by the court. The court decisions will also be announced online.
The court also plans to allow people to buy court documents and other requirements in preparing for their lawsuits through the Internet by credit card or mobile-phone payments.
Korea has one of the largest Internet populations in the world, with the penetration rate reaching over 70 percent. (see the rest of the article here)
This isn’t new news, (is news news if it isn’t new?) but ties in nicely with the topics covered in Our class last Saturday. I tell ya, blogging is going to be an essential part of our jobs, better get used to it. Someday soon, after a rough day in blog court, you and I will have to hook up for a quick virtual drink in the Lawbby.
