Guidelines on the Implementation of Information Services at the Supreme Court

In this era of judicial and court administrative reform, the Supreme Court has taken the initiative to improve its public information services capabilities. This Decision, No. 01/WMKA-NY/SK/I/2009, was signed back on 14 January 2009, but has only recently been finalized in preparation for a 29 June 2009 launch of the public information services desk at the Supreme Court. The decision was issued by the Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court’s Non-Judicial Section. The decision is in essence a set of guidelines (attached to the decision) that stipulates how each part of the Supreme Court is to implement its duties and functions as they relate to information services.

The guidelines deal with, among others, the following:

There are three basic categories of information, namely: information that must be announced, information that is publicly available, and information that is available on request and the granting of permission to access it. Each of these categories is further enumerated in the guidelines. For example, information that must be announced includes regulations and circulars issued by the court; case fees; the rights of justice seekers; the organizational structure of the court; and, mechanisms for lodging complaints regarding allegations of misconduct by judicial and court officers.

It is expected that the guidelines will facilitate a smooth transition to the new procedures regarding what information is to be provided and how that information is to make its way from the court to the public or those that request it. The court is hoping that with the successful implementation of these guidelines that the public perception of the court will improve.