Virtual litigation hearings

Abstract

In a paper dealing with the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic to the litigation proceeding, the author analyses the institution of remote hearings in the Republic of Serbia. A critical reflection was given to the current Law on Civil Litigation and its provisions on presenting evidence from a distance. Afterwards, suggestions were provided for changing and amending these provisions. Several ways for regulating distant hearings were analysed to form the elements of the future norm. When it comes to the actual issue of harmonising the proceeding with the society's technological advancements, there is scepticism in the expertly public on how to harmonise this institution with the principles of litigation proceedings and the right to the fair trial. The author analysed arrangements from the comparative law and the ECHR practice to reach a conclusion on harmonising remote hearings with the principles of litigation proceedings and the right to a fair trial.

Keywords

• pandemics
• videoconference
• remote hearing
• principle of immediacy
• principle of publicity