New IT center to advance digitalization of Uzbekistan’s judiciary

An Information Technology Center will be established under the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan. This was announced on February 27 during a meeting on judicial reforms, chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, focusing on improving judicial activities, enhancing transparency, and advancing digitalization.

Over the past eight years, approximately 70 laws, decrees, and resolutions have been adopted to reform the judiciary, strengthening its material and technical base. These measures aim to address public and business concerns and ensure justice. Last year alone, courts reviewed over three million cases, reflecting the growing legal awareness of the population.

Currently, 14 judicial services, including filing petitions, tracking case statuses, and obtaining electronic court documents, have been digitized. The number of services and users on the Supreme Court’s online platform, my.sud.uz, continues to grow. To date, about 17 million court cases have been processed through information systems, and 15.5 million have been assigned to judges without human intervention.

Since November 1, 2024, internal document circulation in courts has been fully transitioned to electronic format, resulting in cost savings of 638 million soums from the state budget.

To further improve judicial efficiency, additional digital services will be introduced. These include tools for predicting court outcomes and costs, virtual legal consultants, online fine monitoring, and electronic payments. The use of artificial intelligence is also expected to facilitate various judicial innovations.

At the meeting, the "Digital Court" concept was presented, aiming to eliminate paper-based procedures in court operations. The newly established Information Technology Center will develop software and information systems for the judiciary, implement artificial intelligence, and enhance information security. It will also facilitate electronic information exchange between courts and business entities, expediting case proceedings.

"President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of integrating court information systems with other law enforcement agencies to enhance accessibility and convenience for the public," the report states.

It was reported that courts handle approximately one million non-contentious cases annually, including around 200,000 civil cases related to utility debts. A proposal was made to delegate such cases to notaries, reducing the court’s workload.

Under the Constitution, the Supreme Court holds legislative initiative powers. It was recommended that the court regularly analyze key legal issues, such as business, investment, infrastructure, land, taxation, credit, and labor relations, and submit monthly proposals to the government and quarterly reports to parliament.

Additionally, discussions highlighted the necessity of aligning national laws with international standards, increasing public confidence in the judiciary, and ensuring adequate financing for the legal system.

The meeting also addressed the need for economic judicial reforms and the establishment of a unified judicial practice. Officials were instructed to expand the number of court buildings and improve accessibility.

Furthermore, emphasis was placed on enhancing judges’ qualifications, particularly in information technology, and training young legal professionals in digital judicial processes.