An electronic case management system is expected to be operational in Bermuda's courts by next spring, the Chief Justice told attendees at a conference organised by the Bermuda Bar Association.

Larry Mussenden revealed in his Bermuda Judiciary Annual Report this year that the Government had provided the funding for such a system.

At the conference, he said that funding was in the amount of $1 million.

Calling it “an exciting time right now for us from the bench”, Mr Justice Mussenden said a request for proposal would be sent to a limited number of providers at the end of this month, or shortly thereafter.

A selection process will follow, and the successful vendor will be required to commit to the new system being up and running by April 1, 2025.

Mr Justice Mussenden added: "I think it's going to work. It's going to change the way that we are doing business right now."

The Chief Justice said the new system would provide for the electronic filing of legal applications, which will make their way to the judiciary and the Supreme Court Registry for further processing.

When an application is filed, it will automatically be served, and the cause book will be searchable, Mr Justice Mussenden said, highlighting some of the features expected of the new system.

“What is exciting from our end is that I think that at the judiciary we have the mindset that we're open to this. Everyone is looking forward to it.”

Mr Justice Mussenden said another attractive feature would be a voice-to-text system, freeing judges from the laborious task of taking notes because they know that a transcript is going to be available.

The Chief Justice appeared on the panel “The Judicial System: Past, Present and Future” at the “Bench, Bar and Business in the Digital Age” conference held at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. He was joined on the panel by Puisne Judge Shade Subair-Williams and Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls in the United Kingdom. Wayne Caines moderated the discussion.