Teleconferencing for case mentions, says Chief Justice

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Lawyers can now work from the comfort of their offices for case mentions through teleconferencing, Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi said today.

“We have introduced a way where lawyers do not have to physically come to court, just by telephone, for cases to be mentioned in this court,” he said.

Zaki said the registrar will call both parties and manage the case without having the lawyer to personally come to court.

“We will be introducing this throughout the country,” he told reporters today.

At this point in time, the teleconferencing for case mentions had been tested for a week, at the Federal Court and at the High Court of Malaya but admitted that there were “minor teething problems” which can be resolved.

Zaki declined to elaborate but said that additional information will be announced at a later date.

He also suggested other ways to ease traffic congestion at the High Court area.

“People can park at Matrade (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) and we can provide shuttle busses for them. Maybe the Bar can provide the shuttle services,” he said, referring to the government building nearby.

In addition to that, he said there has to be a combined effort among the city municipal council, ministry of transportation and the police to solve the parking problem.

“One more, we are studying that instead of having everyone to come in at 9am, we are trying to get people to come at 10am, 11am, 2pm, 4pm. Staggered. But this is only for case management, not for trials,” he suggested.

“I think it will substantially reduce the number of cars. That should be good news for lawyers,” he said.

courtesy of Malaysian Insider