Electronic evidence: A proposal to reform the presumption of reliability and hearsay

There is a general concern amongst judges, lawyers and legal scholars that evidence in digital format is not to be trusted, given that it can be altered and manipulated with ease. Some jurists have called for a UN Convention on matters relating to the authentication and admissibility of electronic evidence. It is debatable whether such a Convention is necessary, but guidance of an international nature might be welcome, providing that any such guidance remains guidance, and does not ossify into legal requirements that fail to take into account the dynamic and constantly developing changes in information technology. In any event, the accuracy of the presumption in England & Wales that a computer is in order at the material time is highly debatable, and it is suggested that this presumption ought to be reformed.     

回归民事诉讼法——法院依职权调查取证的再改革

民事诉讼法授权法院依职权收集审理案件所需要的证据,为法院依职权调查取证留下了较大的空间。在民事司法改革过程中,这一权力被极度缩小,使得我国法院依职权收集证据的权力明显小于德国、法国等大陆法系国家。通过发现真实达致实体公正是包括我国在内的各国民事诉讼制度的根本目的,过分限缩法院依职权调查取证的权力妨碍了实体公正的实现,已经产生了多方面的负面效应。因此需要对以往的改革进行检讨,并通过适当扩大法院依职权调查收集证据的权力,在民事诉讼中建立科学的案件事实发现机制。     

The Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018: Updating the Federal Approach to Youth Involved,and At‐Risk of Becoming Involved,in the Juvenile Justice System

On December 21, 2018, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act was signed into law, marking the first update in 16 years to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended. The reforms reflect much of the knowledge that has been gained through research and science over the past decade and strengthen the Act’s core protections for youth in the juvenile justice system. The changes also expand the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s role in research, and technical assistance, and provide for additional oversight for related programs.