A mock Family Court hearing today, presided over by Principal
Family Court Judge Peter Boshier, will test web-based
video-conferencing technology in Queenstown, Invercargill,
Balclutha and Wellington.
Ministry of Justice senior communications adviser Nathan
Green said the hearing would test the technology to see
whether it could be used to link judges in main centres with
lawyers and their clients in "remote locations".
The trial would include Queenstown lawyer Dale Lloyd,
Invercargill lawyer Kate McHugh and Balclutha lawyer Annie
Scott.
Mr Green said it would be followed by a "six-month
proof-of-concept" trial next year involving actual cases.
During that period, selected lawyers from Balclutha,
Alexandra and Oamaru would be able to have administrative
matters heard before a Dunedin Family Court judge.
Later next year, lawyers from Queenstown and Gore would be
able to appear before an Invercargill Family Court judge.
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