Lack of infrastructure delays computerization of justice

System incompatibility and delay in standardization
impairs the implementation of the Electronic Judiciary Process (PJe)

 
Failures in the Electronic Judicial Process (PJe) system and delay in standardization are some of the problems pointed out by the OAB/RJ that make it difficult to fully computerize the judiciary in Brazil. There are now around 45 different electronic petition systems across the country, with incompatibilities between them. These challenges and the experiences of implementing the PJe will be the subject of the panel “The impacts of the electronic judicial process on society”, during Rio Info 2015, which takes place from September 15 to 17, at the Hotel Royal Tulip, formerly Intercontinental (Rua Aquarela do Brasil, 75), in São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro. The event has institutional support from ABES.
 
According to lawyer Ana Amélia Menna Barreto, director of digital inclusion at OAB/RJ, since the beginning of computerization of judicial processes in 2007, as required by Law 11,419, each court has adopted independent systems. It was only in 2013 that the National Council of Justice (CNJ) elected the PJe as a model to unify the systems operated by the courts, which received a deadline until 2018 to implement the change. Meanwhile, multiple systems operate simultaneously.
 
The dozens of computerized systems oblige the lawyer (the professional who most uses the tool) to know how each of them works, which causes great confusion. “Only the Labor Court already operates entirely through the PJe system. But it is worth mentioning that the Labor Justice PJe is not the same as the CNJ PJe. The great courts of justice – RJ and SP – have not yet adopted the PJe of the CNJ. The Federal Court started the implementation, but the 2nd Region (RJ) has not yet joined”.
 
Even courts that have already adopted the standard system face several operational problems. “We still need to make many improvements in the PJe to meet the needs of the Brazilian judiciary. The CNJ system has hundreds of technical errors that are being fixed with the electronic process in operation. It is an infinite work and one of constant tests and changes”.
 
Training for the PJe
The lack of standardization of the systems has also hampered the training of lawyers, magistrates and civil servants who work in the field of Justice, according to the judge of the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro (TJRJ) and director of the National School of Magistracy (ENM), Cláudio dell'Orto, the incompatibility between them forces professionals to know how to operate different programs.
 
According to the judge, practically all servers and operators in Brazil already use some electronic mechanism for processing lawsuits. “This training began to be offered about 15 years ago in all courts. But law schools, for example, still do not offer, as part of the curriculum, a subject that trains professionals to use a unified system. Mostly because of the lack of standardization”, he explains.
 
Another important point that must be taken into account, according to judge Cláudio dell'Orto, is the new demand from the courts for an adequate infrastructure for the storage of large amounts of data generated by the digitization of judicial processes. "This has required high investments in equipment and database management systems."
 
Internet access and network security
 
Although half of Brazilians are connected to the internet, access to the computer network is still limited in some regions of the country. In locations where there is no efficient and reliable broadband and 3G internet, access to the Electronic Judicial Process (PJe) system has been hampered. According to data from Anatel (April/2014), of the total of 134 municipalities in Pará, for example, only 93 have broadband service, which is still very unstable.
 
According to Ana Amélia, the problems generated by the lack of telecommunications infrastructure prevent access to the electronic system by lawyers who work in these regions. “The internet access infrastructure in Brazil is expensive and slow. It is not possible to impose mandatory electronic petitions where there is no internet, as in the Amazon region, for example. The extensive instability of the systems, on the other hand, causes serious legal uncertainty and invariably prevents access to justice.”
 
 
About Rio Info 2015
 
Rio Info, the main event dedicated to Information Technology and business in the country, is organized by Riosoft, TI Rio and Assespro, with the support of Sebrae/RJ and Fenainfo. The accumulated data from the twelve previous editions add up to more than 15 thousand participants, two thousand companies between Brazilian (from 20 states) and foreign (16 countries) and business potential of R$200 million. All Rio Info 2015 activities will be linked to five work tracks: “Digital society”, “Entrepreneurship, innovation and business”, “Information Technology – present and future”, “Professionals of the future” and “IT promotion policy” ”. Check out the complete schedule at www.rioinfo.com.br.