SC launches pilot e-court system

The Supreme Court has identified four pilot courts for the prototype of its eCourt Management System: Branch 137, Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Quezon City; Branch 141, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Makati City; Branch 41, RTC, Bacolod City; and Branch 8, RTC, Davao City.

As part of the eCourt System Version 2.0 project, the SC has begun training trial court judges and personnel to use the new system, which aims to simplify and automate case management and court processes. The system supports the goals of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI) and introduces advanced features like court station case management, streamlined case processing, calendar scheduling, and a public portal.

The upgraded system allows courts to use digital rolls, conduct videoconferencing, and maintain private notetaking, revolutionizing judicial efficiency and accessibility.

The training, held at the Judicial Academy Philippines in Tagaytay City, was organized by the SC Committee on Computerization and Libraries, led by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, along with several key agencies and the prototype developer, ComClark Network and Technology Corp. Judges, court personnel and observers from 18 courts nationwide participated in hands-on exercises, live demonstrations, and case management simulations.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo emphasized that the eCourt PH Version 2.0 will streamline operations and improve justice delivery, making the judiciary more effective and responsive to the public’s needs.

Justice Leonen outlined the system’s five key components: (1) eFiling for civil cases, (2) court management applications, (3) electronic filing and case management in appellate courts, (4) digital appeals and service of appellate judgments, and (5) digitalization for criminal cases and special proceedings.