Judicial Institute's Hub wins European innovation prize

The "Judicial Hub", the virtual learning and online communications platform for judicial office holders in Scotland, has been awarded the 2015 "Crystal Scales of Justice" prize by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ).

Organised by the Council of Europe, the prize recognises innovative practices by European judicial institutions aimed at improving both quality and access to justice.

Run by the judges' training body, the Judicial Institute for Scotland, the hub is a custom built platform designed to meet the information, learning, collaboration and communication needs of all judges, sheriffs, and justices of the peace in Scotland. Launched in March 2014 and utilising advanced digital technology, it provides a wide range of learning and communication features on one site that users can access on any device with internet access from any location.

This year 18 proposals from 11 countries throughout Europe were submitted, resulting in the Judicial Hub being shortlisted alongside the High Judicial Council of Serbia, the Court Administration of the Republic of Latvia, and the Dutch Legal Aid Board.

Sheriff Alistair Duff, director of the Institute, was presented with the top prize during a ceremony last Friday in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the main event during celebrations to mark the 2015 European Day of Justice.

Sheriff Duff commented: “I am delighted to receive the award in recognition of the hard work invested in designing and developing the hub by all of my Judicial Institute and Judicial Office colleagues. Since the launch of the hub, a huge effort has gone into maintaining, developing and improving its appearance and functionality as well as in supporting judicial office holders to make the best use of the hub and its resources.”

Fabio Bartolomeo, president of the jury that awarded the prize, said: “The Judicial Institute for Scotland has developed an innovative website designed in order to create a dynamic environment, meeting the information, learning, collaboration and communication needs of judicial office holders in Scotland. All European judicial systems should take the example of the Judicial Hub in order to improve they way their websites are designed and deployed.”