Skype in courts 'could save money' Jul 18th 2013, 15:11
Press Association –
A High Court judge says more use of Skype by lawyers involved in international cases might save money.
Mr Justice Peter Jackson - who sits in the Family Division of the High Court in London - suggested that Skype could be used more often in cases featuring witnesses in remote locations.
The judge made his comments in a written ruling following hearings relating to a British couple who wanted to adopt a child they found on a street in Nepal.
He said lawyers had used Skype to communicate with the little girl's natural parents after attempts to make contact via the British Embassy in Kathmandu failed.
A witness in Colombia had also given evidence using Skype in another case he had overseen, the judge added.
"The quality of the link was adequate. The witness gave evidence for an hour at a cost of about £150. The cost of a full ISDN (integrated services digital network) link would have been in the region of £1,200," said the judge.
"There is clearly the possibility of using this system in hearings involving witnesses in remote locations and in reducing the high international costs associated with ISDN."
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