While the best known example of a digital case system (DCS) is the UK Crown Court Digital Case System (CCDCS), it is a widely known and used class of software with many different companies around the world offering solutions. The purpose of a DCS is to enable preparation and presentation of electronic evidence in courts and tribunals.
What is a Digital Case System?
A digital case system is a web-based platform that allows users to upload, view, annotate, present, and share case documents. They have specific user roles and permissions for each party, the judge(s), court administrator(s) (including registrar and clerks), and any other relevant groups. They have functionality designed specifically for the court setting, including sections for managing exhibits, indictments, witness statements, transcripts, case law, and more.
How does a Digital Case System Work?
Every DCS is slightly different, but there are a few features that are common across nearly all systems. At the most basic level, a digital case system allows users to upload evidence to a secure server and present it to the court.
Many DCS will also allow users to manage multiple cases, keep documents private and make private annotations, view documents from any location on any device via the cloud, and more. To see an example of the features of a popular DCS, view the eTrialToolkit Features Page. Some other common features include but are not limited to:
- Integration with videoconferencing technologies including Zoom and Microsoft Teams (Read: How to Host a Virtual Trial)
- A common digital book of evidence for all users and groups, fully searchable by any attribute or field
- The ability to display documents in court and give navigation control to any party — even the witness
- Exhibit identification, stamping, tracking for court registrars and clerks
- Compatibility with production formats from any litigation or eDiscovery software
There a number of digital case systems on the market, and it can be difficult to choose the right one for your use case. If you would like to speak to a DCS expert, contact us or get a demo of eTrialToolkit!
